OMAHA, Neb. - 24 William Carey opened play in the CSM Labor Day Classic falling to #10 Providence (Mont.) and #23 The Master's (Calif.).
 
In the first match of the day against Providence, the Argos jumped out quickly on the Lady Crusaders, scoring nine of the first ten points. From there Providence kept attacking and extended their lead to 23-10. Carey attempted a late rally, scoring seven of the next eight points but got no closer, as an error by WCU clinched the first set win for the Argos.
 
Set two started like the first with Providence jumping out to an early 7-2 lead. This time though Carey slowed the run staying within striking distance until the Argos built a 17-11 advantage. Again, the Lady Crusaders rallied behind a 9-4 run to get back within one point but Providence halted the rally and closed the set on a 4-1 run to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The third set again saw the Argos get off to a quick start, this time taking a 15-2 advantage, before going on to take the set 25-8.
 
Against The Master's, Carey got off to a slow start, finding themselves in an early 7-3 deficit. The Lady Crusaders found their stride, quickly erasing the deficit behind three kills from Sofia Bettini and two errors to tie the set at eight.
 
The Lady Mustangs secured the next two points, but WCU responded with four straight points of their own to take a 12-10 lead. That pattern repeated until three straight kills by Alyssa Portee, Riley Carter, and Agnes Hegardt put the Lady Crusaders ahead 21-16.
 
The Lady Mustangs did not back down, battling their way back to within one point at 23-22. A kill by Hegardt followed to put Carey within one point of victory but The Master's went on a 4-0 run to snatch the victory from WCU.
 
Set two started just like the first with the Lady Mustangs taking an early 7-3 lead. Three straight kills from Bettini put Carey within one point with the back-and-forth pattern from the first set resuming. With the Lady Mustangs holding a 17-16 lead, they pulled away for good behind a 4-0 run before going on to take the set 25-19.
 
Set three started with both teams trading shots with The Master's slowly building an 11-7 lead. The lady Crusaders responded with six straight points with Hegardt and Bettini picking up three of those points to take a 13-11 lead.
 
The back and forth resumed with each team taking turns with the lead. With the set tied at 17 all, Carey picked up back-to-back kills from Portee and Katarina Vulic with an attack error putting WCU up 20-17. The Lady Crusaders extended their lead to 23-19 but in a moment of Déjà vu, the Lady Mustangs fought their way back to within one at 23-22 with a kill by Carter this time putting Carey within one point of victory. This time though, an error by The Master's sealed the win to keep WCU's hopes alive.
 
The Lady Mustangs got off to a quick start building a 12-5 advantage. The Lady Crusaders regained their footing, fighting their way back to within two points but The Master's picked up the next three points to push their lead to five.
 
Carey again though fought their way back behind a 7-1 run to take a 19-18 lead with five of the points coming off kills and another coming off a block by Carter and Portee. After trading shots, the Lady Mustangs took a 22-20 lead with a 3-0 run, but WCU responded with two kills by Hegardt and a service ace from Bettini to retake the lead at 23-22. With the Lady Crusaders again within one point of victory. The Master's picked up three straight kills to close the set and secure the victory.
 
WCU returns to action tomorrow, as they take on #18 College of Idaho at 11:00 am and Hastings College (Neb.) at 3:00 pm.