Volleyball Falls Twice In Weekend Tri-Match

Volleyball Falls Twice In Weekend Tri-Match- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 10/14/23

The Lady Pioneers traveled to Point Lookout, MO for a tri-match scheduled against CAC opponents Haskell University and College of the Ozarks. CRC  entered today's contests on a 3-game win streak after defeating Williams Baptist University this last Thursday, October 12th with a three-set sweep. The Lady Pioneers saw their win streak snapped in the opening match against hosting team CofO and would drop their sending contest with a 5-set defeat against Haskell University. 

Game one:

College of the Ozarks- 3

Crowley's Ridge- 0

Point Lookout, MO- Set one CRC produced the first point of the day with Jadyn Hesse setting up  Hannah Halverson for a kill taking the lead over the Bobcats. The CofO offense retaliated with a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead dramatically. The hosting team forced the Pioneers to play from behind for the majority of the set until a late 6-1 run from the Pioneers tied the set 21-21 as Alexis Weirich smashed out two kills for the Lady Pioneers. In the final points of the opening set, two Pioneer attacks landed out of bounds, giving lead way to the Bobcats letting them finish off the Pioneers, 25-21, in the opening set. After a close opening set loss, Emi Elms started the second set with a big block reminding the opponent that there was still a lot of ball left to play. But like in set one, the Bobcats manufactured enough points to lead the majority of the set. CRC stayed hot on the Bobcats' heels by trailing as little as 3 for the majority of the set until a service ace capped a big run from the Bobcats allowing them to pull away from CRC with a,17-11 lead. The Bobcats didn't slow their roll and left little room for the Pioneers to breathe as they went on a second run, this one being 8-2, that claimed the set 25-13 over CRC. Set three CRC battled to stay alive down two sets but wouldn't have luck in their favor. The Bobcats, with all the momentum, led 4-0 before CRC produced a point. Alexis Weirich pushed the Lady Pioneers back in the match as she rallied off three kills, cutting the score to a 7-5 CofO lead. The Bobcats reached the 10-point mark with a 5-point lead over CRC and steadily improved their lead by reaching the 20-point mark with a 7-point lead over the Pioneers, 20-13. Coach Carissa Winn called time-out to help strategize as the Pioneers faced defeat but when time restarted CRC mustered only two more points. CofO's lead proved too much as the Bobcats took the set and match with a 25-15 set three win.  

Alexis Weirich and Hannah Halverson led the Pioneers with (7) kills each. Two Pioneers had double-digit digs with Kinley Matlock leading the way with (20) followed by Halverson's (14). Jadyn Hesse led the Pioneers in assists with (16) and Jillian Glasgow finished with (11). 

Game Two: 

Haskell University- 3

Crowley's Ridge- 2

Point Lookout, MO- After dropping game one, the Pioneers faced a tough matchup to get back on the right track as Haskell defeated CRC earlier this season back on September, 30th, with a three-set sweep. CRC changed their attack plan and gave the Fighting Indians a run for their money this go-round as it took Haskell 5 sets to finally slip past the Pioneers.

The Pioneers started with some pep in their step climbing ahead 10-4 over the Fighting Indians of Haskell with Emi Elms, Jillian Glasgow, and Hannah Halverson all slamming kills through the Haskell defense. CRC even reached the 15 point before the Indians with a 4-point lead,15-11, as Jillian Glasgow buried back-to-back kills. It wouldn't take long before CRC quickly reached the 20-point mark with yet another Pioneer kill, this one coming from Alexis Weirich. Paige Glenn joined in the fun as she hammered out the next Pioneer point forcing Haskell to pause play and talk things over now trailing 21-15. Hannah Halverson led CRC to their first set win of the weekend as she served up the finishing touches for the Pioneers in their 25-18 set one win.  After an impressive start in set one, the Fighting Indians would flip roles and come ahead 5-1 over CRC in set two. Crowley's Ridge rallied, bringing it within one, 9-10,  with Hannah Halverson finding no man's land with a ball down the sideline but CRC wouldn't retake the lead. A mirror image flip of set one, Haskell reached the 15-point mark first with a 15-11 lead over CRC. With another point from Haskell,  coach Carissa Winn would finally call time out to stop play as the Pioneers trailed 16 to 11.  When play resumed the Lady Pioneers settled and collected themselves as they rallied back forcing an Indian timeout now down three, 20-23. Unfortunately, Haskell's lead held with the fighting Indians taking set two, 25-21. In set three, both teams battled for the set advantage and it came down to the crucial last 5 points to earn it. Haskell took a 21-20 advantage before Crowley's Ridge rallied off a 3-0 run to force an Indian timeout with Hannah Halverson linking up with Jillian Glasgow for the kill and assist. Haskell would bring it within one, 23-24 but the Pioneers slowed their role by taking a timeout of their own. After the 1:15 second intermission, the Lady Pioneers claimed the pivotal 3rd set 25-23 with Alexis Weirich smashing a kill courtesy of Jillian Glasgow. Set 4, the Pioneers looked to end the match with a victory but were halted by the Fighting Indians. Jadyn Hesse tied the set 10-10 with a service ace but Haskell answered by breaking the tie after two consecutive kills and retaking the lead for the remainder of the set. Haskell built off this small lead and pulled the ol' butterfly effect to win set four, 25-17. Now in the final set, CRC traded the Indians point for point until Haskell went on a 4-0 run, taking the lead 6-2. This run helped the Fighting Indians reach the midway mark first, 8-4 over CRC, and gave them the push they needed to best Crowley's Ridge again this season. When the two teams switched sides Heather Conway and Jadyn Hesse encouraged a few Pioneer points from behind the service line but it wouldn't catch fire as the Indians defeated CRC 15-7. 

Jillian Glasgow produced her first triple-double of her young career as the freshmen posted (10) kills, (12) digs, and (17) assists in the 5-set loss. Hannah Halverson and Jadyn Hesse posted a double-double with Halverson's team-high (11) kills and (13) digs and Hesse's (10) digs and (14) helpers. Kinley Matlock led the team digs overall with (24). 

The Lady Pioneers hit the road to take on the Lions of Freed-Hardeman University on Tuesday, October 17th at 6:00 pm #GOPIONEERS.