Elizabethton, TN – Bryan College battled hard but ultimately fell to Milligan University 3-2 in a marathon five-set match on Friday evening. The Lions showed tremendous heart in forcing a decisive fifth set before falling 25-23, 16-25, 17-25, 25-19, 9-15.

Despite the loss, Bryan College (1-19, 0-4) displayed significant improvement from earlier in the season, particularly in their attacking efficiency. After struggling offensively in recent matches, the Lions found their rhythm behind strong performances from Bella Beard and Shelby Kelly.

Beard led the Lions' attack with 17 kills on an impressive .382 hitting percentage, providing the consistent offensive threat Bryan needed throughout the match. Kelly contributed 18 kills while adding crucial service pressure with a team-high 20 points.

The Lions' balanced offensive approach was evident in their distribution, with setter Kaci Wade orchestrating 39 assists while adding three points of her own, as well as 14 digs. The team's passing game showed marked improvement, with defensive specialist, Elise Brew anchoring the defense with 14 digs.

Bryan College's resilience was on full display in the fourth set, where they overcame an early deficit to dominate 25-19 and force the decisive fifth frame. The Lions jumped to a 7-5 lead in the final set, but Milligan maintained their composure down the final stretch. Libero, Avery Baxter suffered a nose injury in the fifth set and it proved to be too much for the Lions to handle.

Bryan College will look to build on this competitive effort as they continue their conference schedule, seeking that elusive first conference victory. The Lady Lions are back in action on Tuesday at Johnson University.