WBU Drops Two to Open Volleyball Seasons

The Williams Baptist University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to open its season Saturday afternoon with a heartbreaking 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19 and 15-12 loss to Crowley's Ridge College, followed by a 25-8, 25-15, 25-16 loss to Pensacola Christian College at the Carter Activities Center on the CRC Campus.

Against the Pioneers, both teams battled back and forth with neither gaining a clear advantage throughout the match. In the decisive fifth set, the score was tied at 10, but CRC managed to go up by two with back-to-back service aces. 

Williams got back to within 12-11 on a setting error by the Pioneers, but three kills by CRC  helped give them the set and the match at 15-12.

Tinleigh Ruhman led the way for Williams in the match with 14 kills, while Hope Raymond added 13 kills and six assists. Laykin Harkcom finished the match with 48 assists, while Raymond led the team with 29 digs.

WBU got off to a slow start against Pensacola Christian College and never regained its footing from its 25-8 first set loss. In the second set the Eagles got to within 12-8 after solid play at the net from Raymond and Sophie Allred, but PCC went on a run to extend its advantage to 17-11 and the Eagles could not get PCC off serve.

Williams faced similar issues in the third set, as Pensacola Christian College strung together long runs to keep the Eagles from getting anything going on serve and PCC closed out the match in three sets.

WBU returns home to take on Jarvis Christian College on Tuesday, Aug. 29 in its home opener. First serve is set for 6 p.m. in the Southerland-Mabee Center.

WBU is a private, Christian university in Walnut Ridge.