Box Score
The 2017 season has come to an end for the Lady Bruins volleyball team as the team was eliminated in the semifinal round with a 3-0 loss to #3 seeded Maranatha Baptist University. The Sabercats will move on to face #1 seeded Kentucky Christian College in the championship match.
"Our players have nothing to hand their head about," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "It was a disappointing end to our season and we knew we would have to bring our best game against a very good Maranatha squad. To go 25-15 and win a 2nd region championship in only our second season of competition is rewarding."
The Bruins had earned a spot in the final four with back to back sweeps on Thursday over #5 Providence University College and #8 Emmaus Bible College. The Bruins fell to Kentucky Christian Friday morning to setup a match with the Sabercats. MBU is the two-time defending NCCAA DII National Champion, but the Bruins looked to dethrone the champs in the Davis Field House.
The Bruins quickly opened up the first set against the Sabercats 4-2 because of two violations on MBU and kills by Katherine Ring and Lauren Johnson. The beginning of the set was very evenly matched as the set tied multiple times. A kill by Erin Jarvis tied the game at 7-7, but the Sabercats were able to power their way back in control after a wide attack on the Bruins put them up 12-10. Rachel Tubbs was able to make a kill to bring the Bruins within one, but MBU once again scored twice in a row to keep the Sabercats slightly ahead. A pair of kills by Laura Gaston and a kill by Brittany Annand brought the Bruins back within one again at 15-14. The Sabercats put together several impressive kills to take a 22-17 lead late in the set. The Bruins looked to bounce back from the deficit but MBU landed three consecutive kills to end the set with a 25-18.
In the second set, the Sabercats picked up right where they left off and opened the set on a 3-0 run. The run was ended by Ring who made a kill followed by a block on the next play to make the score 3-2. A wide attack and a kill by Tubbs kept the Bruins within one, but the Sabercats then went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. Not to be deterred, the Bruins responded with their own 4-0 run and tied the set at 8-8. Another wide attack put the Bruins down 12-11 and the Sabercats took the momentum with an impressive 6-0 run to lead 18-12. An attack error on the Sabercats eventually ended their long run and kills by Gaston and Jarvis and a double hit on MBU cut the Bruins deficit to four, trailing 20-16. It wouldn't be enough as the Sabercats powered their way to another 25-18 set victory on three straight kills. With the win, MBU took a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
The Bruins now faced a must win situation in the third set if they were to advance to the championship. A block by Ring, a kill by Olivia Vosburgh and an ace by Saleena Walker boosted the Bruins to an early 6-4 lead. Both teams played with determination to win the set and as a result, the set tied several times. A kill by Brittany Annand tied the set at 12-12. Hungry for the sweep, the Sabercats clawed their way ahead with a 3-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. The Bruins wouldn't recover as the Sabercats quickly took a 21-15 advantage after back to back double hit and four hit violation on the Bruins. The Bruins called their final timeout while trailing 21-15. Erin Jarvis made the final Bruins kill of the night for BJU to cut the Sabercats lead to 22-17. Just as they had done in previous sets, the Sabercats ended the set with three consecutive kills to win 25-17 and the match 3-0.
"I am extremely proud of these young ladies and the amount time, effort and work each put into our team this season," Coach Denny said. "Each has continued to help us lay the foundation for our future and I appreciate all they have done."
Laura Gaston led the Bruins with 9 kills while Rachel Tubbs had 8 and Erin Jarvis finished with 7. Tubbs and Olivia Vosburgh had 11 assists while Saleena Walker recorded 17 digs. With the loss, the Bruins finish the season at 25-15. The team had a memorable season which included capturing their second straight NCCAA DII South Region Championship. The Bruins will graduate two seniors from the program but with several core returners, the team will look to take the next step towards a national championship in 2018.
