SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lady Crusaders fall to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) to wrap up play in the Halo Classic.
Against the Eagles in the first match of the day both teams went back and forth to start the first set with each taking turns with the lead. That trend continued until with Carey leading 17-16 the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to close the set.
The second set started the same as the first set with things remaining close early on. Also like the first set was Embry-Riddle using a run to seize control of the match. This time with the score 11-10 in favor of WCU it was an 11-2 run that allowed Embry-Riddle to pull away for good. Set three saw the Lady Crusaders take an early lead only to see the Eagles once again take a commanding lead behind a 13-4 run before going on to take the set 25-16.
In their final match against OLLU, Carey got off to a shaky start, finding themselves down 9-3. The Lady Crusaders settled in, battling their way back to within two on multiple occasions before cutting the deficit to 17-16.
The Saints answered with four straight points to push the lead to five before taking a 24-18 lead. The Lady Crusaders held strong, rallying behind a service ace and kills by
Sofia Bettini,
Alyssa Portee, and
Natalie Bartholomew to cut the deficit to 24-22. However, a service error by WCU ended the comeback attempt.
Things were much closer in the second set, as neither team led by more than two points for most of the set. With WCU holding a 20-19 lead, OLLU took control, closing the set on a 6-1 run to take a 2-0 lead.
It was much of the same in the third set with both teams trading shots. With the Saints leading 13-12 it was Carey that jumped out ahead behind a 6-1 run. But once again, OLLU answered to tie the set at 19. From there the back and forth resumed. However, with Carey leading 24-23 the Saints secured the victory with three straight points.
WCU returns to action Thursday, August 21, as they head to Butte, Montana where they will take on Montana State University-Northern at 1:00 pm and Nelson University at 6:00 pm.
