MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Lady Crusaders opened a two-game road swing with a 3-1 victory over Faulkner University Friday night.
 
Carey jumped out quickly on Faulkner in the first set taking an early 10-4 lead. The Eagles eventually settled in and using a 7-1 run rallied to tie the set at 11. From there it was a back-and-forth battle that saw Faulkner hold the largest lead at two on multiple occasions with the last coming at 19-17.
 
The Lady Crusaders stayed focused and with kills by Agnes Hegardt and Natalie Bartholomew followed by an attack error retook the lead at 20-19. After trading shots, WCU took the lead for good behind a block from Zoie Mitchell and Alyssa Portee, a kill by Portee, and another Faulkner error. The Eagles held off defeat momentarily by picking up the next point but a kill by Sofia Bettini clinched the set for Carey.
 
Set two was nothing like the first, with both teams scoring in batches to take turns with the lead and neither leading by more than three points. With Faulkner leading 22-21, Carey picked up back-to-back points on a kill by Hegardt and an error but quickly allowed the Eagles to tie the set again on an error of their own. Faulkner followed with another attack error moving Carey one point closer with Bettini again sealing the win with a kill.
 
Faulkner came out with a renewed sense of urgency in the third set, jumping out to an early 4-1 lead. The Lady Crusaders quickly regained their footing and battled back to take a 6-5 lead. The battle from the previous set resumed but this time Faulkner slowly built a 21-16 lead before taking the set 25—18.
 
Set four started with both teams trading shots. That was the case until Carey picked up two kills apiece from Bettini and Hegardt along with two errors by Faulkner took an 18-12 lead. It looked like the Lady Crusaders had things well in hand going on to take a 21-15 lead but the Eagles would not go without a fight and battled their way back to within two at 23-21. Carey would not be denied the victory, clinching the match with Bettini's 17^th kill of the match followed by a block from Hegardt and Riley Carter.
 
The Lady Crusaders are back in action tomorrow, as they head to Mobile, Ala. to take on the University of Mobile in conference action. Play is set to begin at 1:00 pm.