CLEVELAND, Ga. – The Lady Lions volleyball team demonstrated significant improvement in their rematch against Life University on Saturday morning, turning what was a demoralizing sweep just a day prior into a competitive four-set battle before falling 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 21-25, 19-25) at the 2025 Labor Day Bear Invitational.
After being swept 3-0 on Friday afternoon in a match where they managed just 20 kills and hit a dismal -.114, the Lions came out swinging on Friday with renewed energy and purpose. The turnaround was immediate and impressive – Bryan nearly doubled their kill total to 46 while dramatically improving their hitting percentage.
The difference was night and day. Where Friday's match saw the Lions struggle to find any offensive rhythm, Saturday's contest showcased a team that had clearly made adjustments and refused to back down. The most telling improvement came in Bryan's ability to extend rallies and compete in longer sets.
Freshman outside hitter
Shelby Kelly led the Lions' offensive resurgence with 12 kills on 39 attacks, a marked improvement from her nine kills on 36 swings the previous day. Fellow teammate
Leah Lindquist bounced back from a difficult Friday performance (0 kills, -.625 hitting percentage) to contribute 11 kills on 33 attacks.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign was Bryan's second-set victory, where they dominated 25-18 behind strong performances from Kelly and outside hitter
Sydney Enslen, who finished with five kills after managing just three in the previous match.
The Lions' serving also showed marked improvement, recording two service aces compared to zero the night before, while their defensive effort was highlighted by 76 digs – nearly double Thursday's total of 40.
"We came out with a completely different energy level today," said Head Coach Jessica Day. "We had a game plan, and did a good job at executing," she continued. The Lions showed particular growth in their ability to respond to adversity, bouncing back from difficult moments rather than letting them snowball as they had 24 hours earlier.
The match featured several momentum swings, with Bryan taking early leads in both the first and fourth sets before Life's experience and depth eventually took over. The Lions showed they could hang with their opponents when executing their game plan, a stark contrast to Friday's struggles.
With the loss, Bryan falls to 1-9 on the young season, but the dramatic improvement from one day to the next provides a foundation to build upon. The Lions demonstrated that when they play with confidence and execute their offensive sets, they can compete with quality opponents.
The back-to-back matches against Life University served as a perfect measuring stick for Bryan's growth potential. While the results may look similar on paper – two losses – the process and competitiveness showed a team capable of rapid improvement and adjustment.
Bryan College will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season, having proven to themselves and their opponents that they can bounce back from adversity and compete at a high level when playing their brand of volleyball.
The Lady Lions will head back to Indiana to compete in the IU Kokomo Volleyball Invitational next weekend.
