Dayton, TN - The Lady Lions took the court Saturday afternoon in a highly anticipated match vs. the undefeated Columbia International University Rams.  These two teams have battled for top spot in the AAC the last 2 years. 

The first set was a back and forth early. Until the Lions took a 10-9 lead, a lead which they never relinquished, taking set one 25-22. Bryan held onto the momentum in set two. A big set by Alison Knop helped the Lions to take a 25-18 set win and a 2-0 lead. 

The third set proved to be a test for the Lady Lions. After Bryan took a 13-4 lead to what looked like could be a sweep, the Lions started to fade and CIU hit their stride, eventually CIU taking a 25-23 set win. Set Four was a set no one wanted to lose. Both teams took big swings and big blocks at the net. But CIU would come out with the set win 26-24. 

The Lady Lions had felt this same feeling just 4 days before. On Tuesday night, the Lions had taken a 2-0 lead and gave up 3 straight to Miligan. The Lady Lions felt that feeling creep in going down 11-6 in the final set before a timeout was called by Coach Jessica Day. Coming out of the time out, the Lions demeanor changed. A big kill by Sarah Moore, followed by a block by Raegan Malugin got the Lions 2 quick points. After forcing some errors by CIU, and a few kills from Knop and Abby Rector, the Lady Lions clawed their way back to tie the set at 14-14. It was an Abby Rector game to finish, Rector got the kill to take the 15-14 lead off an assist from Abby Cross. Rector had a hiccup on the service error and now tied 15-15. But it was another Cross to Rector kill to regain the lead at 16-15. Rector would get the serve redemption, as she put an ace down the back line to take the 17-15 set win and 3-2 match win. 

The Lady Lions go to 15-9 overall and 12-4 in conference.

Click here for box score.


INSIDE THE BOX

• Abby Rector - 17 Kills & 3 Aces
• Raegan Malugin - 9 Blocks & 10 kills
• Elliot Back- 19 Digs
• Jurnee Wilson 26 Assists

 

Next Up
The Lady Lions are back home Tuesday night at 6:30 against Johnson University. 

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