JBU volleyball rallies for victory at MACU

Photo submitted John Brown's Jessica Meyer and Taylor Glover go up for a block during Friday's match at Mid-America Christian. JBU defeated MACU 3-2.
Photo submitted John Brown's Jessica Meyer and Taylor Glover go up for a block during Friday's match at Mid-America Christian. JBU defeated MACU 3-2.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Facing a 2-1 deficit, the John Brown University volleyball team combined to hit .291 through sets four and five, launching the Golden Eagles to a 3-2 (25-27, 25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 15-10) win over Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Friday night inside the Gaulke Activity Center.

MACU's Alexa Bass boasted a triple double -- 12 kills, 24 digs and 24 assists -- but the John Brown offense made key adjustments to escape the barn burner match.

Junior Jessica Meyer led all players with 16 kills and added five blocks, while senior Bayli Reagan and sophomore Taylor Glover contributed 13 and 11 kills, respectively. JBU (2-5, 2-1 Sooner Athletic nfere) hit .169 (58-28-177) over the five sets, but it was the offensive adjustments in the last two games that launched the visitors to its 11th-straight win over the Evangels (5-2, 1-2).

After dropping two of the first three sets, including a dramatic 27-25 loss in the first game, the JBU offense rode a 9-2 run midway through the fourth frame to turn a 10-7 lead into a 19-9 advantage, forcing a pivotal fifth game.

After three early ties, a Lindsey Davis kill and blocked helped the visitors take a 6-4 advantage, one it wouldn't relinquish. Up 9-7, junior Megan Beck and Meyer added terminations and a Meyer-Beck-Mayo wall rejected another MACU attack attempt to construct a 13-7 lead, JBU's largest of the set.

The host Evangels wouldn't make it easy for John Brown, but finally a Meyer-Mayo rejection ended the contest.

Freshman Jenna Lowery led the JBU defensive effort with a team-best 21 scoops. Junior Elizabeth Williams passed out 31 assists while freshman Carrie Ciesla chipped in with 14 in the win.

Annika Barnett led MACU with 12 terminations. Da'Jah Thompson contributed 11. The visitors, however, could only hit .127 (53-31-173) in the match.

JBU was scheduled to play Science and Arts on Saturday at MACU. Results were not available at presstime.

Sports on 09/09/2018