Todd Ryals

Lady Wildcats Drop First Match of Crossover

10/13/2017 5:31:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

For the second time this season the Louisiana College volleyball team traveled to Texas to participate in an American Southwest Conference crossover weekend. On Friday the Lady Wildcats took on Concordia University at McMurry University's Kimbrell Arena. The Wildcats were not able to recover after a slow start in the first set and went on to lose in straight sets to the Tornado 25-8, 25-12, 25-17. LC travels across town to Hardin-Simmons University for an early match against Sul Ross State University Saturday morning.

One of the things that has plagued the Lady Wildcats all season, falling into a big hole early, was the story of the first set on Friday afternoon. Despite some help from the Tornado in the way of back-to-back attack errors that tied the match at four, Concordia scored the next four points in a row to double up the Wildcats. They would go on a 19-3 run in total to take a commanding 23-7 lead in the first set. Of the eight points in the set LC scored, one came from a kill and one from a block, the other as a result of Concordia attack or service errors.

The Wildcats responded better in the second set, getting a kill from Jaslyn Bright to tie the set at four once again. Although Concordia got the next three points, two attack errors by the Tornado kept LC close at 7-6. Down by eight later in the set, head coach Brittany Salloum called a timeout to try and break the CTX momentum. The strategy worked as a service error by Concordia, a kill from Bright and an ace from Paris Babino cut into the Concordia lead. The rally was short lived however as the Tornado regained their footing and retook the momentum, converting on six kills down the stretch, along with the help of four Wildcat attack errors.

The third set began strong for the Wildcats, with a block by Bright and Sadi Jones for the first point to LC. They later took the lead on four straight points behind kills from Jones and Zharian Maxmillion, as well a Jones service ace. LC clung to an 8-5 lead until four straight points from the Tornado erased it. This time though, the Wildcats would respond with a run of their own with kills from Brennen Parker and another from Bright along with a pair of CTX attack errors, putting the Wildcats back on top 12-9. The set remained close for the next several rallies and eventually a kill from Bright tied the game back at 16 after CTX had taken the one point lead. That would be the last the set would be tied as Concordia went on a 9-1 run to finish the set and the match at 25-17.

Jaslyn Bright led the Wildcats with eight kills in the match, adding eight digs to the effort as well; Olivia Huval led the team in digs with 15. Paris Babino finished with 10 assists and both Bright and Sadi Jones had two blocks in the match.

The Wildcats travel across Abilene to the campus of Hardin-Simmons for Saturday morning's opening match against Sul Ross State at 10am before heading back to Kimbrell Arena Saturday evening for a rematch with McMurry. For the latest on Louisiana College volleyball follow @LC_wvolleyball on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

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