WBU Volleyball Defeats Rust for Second Straight Win

The Williams Baptist University women's volleyball team defeated Rust College 25-21, 16-25, 25-18, 25-18 in a non-conference volleyball matchup Tuesday night at the Southerland-Mabee Center. 

Tinleigh Ruhman led the way for the Eagles with eight kills, while Laykin Harkcom and Hope Raymond added six each. Dayshia Espinosa and Halli Bolinger-Yount finished with five kills each. Harkcom all led the teams with 13 assists, while Faith Raymond collected 21 digs. Her sister Hope Raymond added 14 digs and Alonna Thomas also finished in double figures with 12 digs. 

The Eagles and Bearcats traded points throughout much of the first set, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Williams led 22-21 late in the set and used back-to-back kills from Hope Raymond and Ruhman to force a set point. A service from Harkcom gave WBU an early 1-0 and the momentum going into the next set.

Rust countered, however and built a 15-12 advantage. The deficit grew to 22-15 after an attack error from Williams and a block at the net on set point tied the match at a game each.

WBU responded with a flurry in the third and quickly pounced on the Bearcats to take a 12-5 edge. A combination of a strong attack on offense, and defensive miscues from Rust helped Williams gain the advantage, but Rust did not go easily as they worked their way back into the match and got within 21-15. Bolinger-Yount helped end the run, and the Eagles got back on track and closed out with an ace, and back-to-back kills to go up 2-1 in the match.

The fourth set was tightly contested, much like the first set with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Williams Baptist managed to take a 13-9 lead early on, but Rust quickly erased that to tie the set at 15-15. After trading points, the Eagles went on a 7-0 run to close out the set at 25-17 and the match at 3-1 for their second straight win.

Williams is set to begin American Midwest Conference play, Friday, Sept. 22 at Columbia. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.