PORTSMOUTH – Volleyball gave No. 11 Lindsey Wilson all it could handle and more as the Bears (15-12, 7-7 MSC) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Blue Raiders (26-1, 14-0) Sunday afternoon. However, the nationally-ranked and MSC unbeaten Blue Raiders rallied to take three must-win games and escape with the road victory.
Each of the games played on Sunday afternoon seemed to always go to the team that jumped out to the early lead. In the first game, SSU secured seven of the first 11 points but LWC rallied to tie the match at 11 and eventually 13-all. However, Shawnee State would go up 22-18 and takes its opening game on a Blue Raider attack error.
The Bears just kept that momentum rolling in the second game as they took a 7-1 lead before the guests were forced into taking a timeout. However, the brief break in the action could not stop the Bears' attack as they maintained the advantage at 17-10. SSU continued to distance itself as an ace from Madison Smith put the Bears up 24-15. Kristi Humble would then finish it with the kill two points later to put the Bears on the brink of victory.
With their the backs against the wall, Lindsey Wilson came out stronger early for the first time on Sunday in the third game and held a 10-6 edge and stretched that lead all the way to 22-16 before closing out its first game victory in the come-from-behind win. The Blue Raiders took another lead early in the fourth game, 8-4, but SSU rallied all the way back to take a brief lead before the match was knotted at 15-all. This time, it was LWC's chance at a rally as it claimed a 22-17 advantage before closing out their second game of the evening.
In the decisive game, Lindsey Wilson again came out strong with the first three points and held another 8-4 lead for the second straight game. Just like the previous game, SSU would not go down without a fight. The Bears took five of the next six points to tie the match at nine-all. After tie scores at 10-all and 11-all, LWC took the next two points to go up 13-11. Side-outs would make it 14-12 and the Bears would save one match point before a kill off an SSU block ended the Bears chances at the upset bid.
Paige Zelich led the Bears' offense with 17 kills on the afternoon as she hit .484 for the match. Devan Scarberry and Humble each added 11 kills to the attack, giving SSU three players with double figure kill totals. Bonnie Huesing led the Bears in assists with 27 while Hannah Gephart tallied 22 more.
Four SSU players finished with double figure dig totals as Kirsti Yates and Carly Mazza each finished with 15. Smith added 14 more digs while Gephart came up with 13 for the match. The Bears also had nine blocks in the match as Brittany Mounts and Tiffany Jackson each came up with five block assists.
Volleyball will be back at home next Saturday at Campbellsville comes to Portsmouth for a 1 p.m. serve time.
