MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs clinched the No. 4 seed in next week's Gulf South Conference Tournament as they swept visiting West Alabama Friday night in three sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Tigers (17-16, 9-11 GSC) took an early 6-3 lead in the opening set, but the Lady Bucs (16-13, 11-8) stormed back with a seven-point run keyed by four
Mary Kathryn Miller (Fulton, Ky./Fulton City HS) blocks as they took a 10-6 lead they would never relinquish. Another five-point run later in the set gave them a 17-10 cushion, and they led by as many as eight points in winning 25-17.
• The second set was back-and-forth, with no leads of more than three points and UWA serving for set point up 25-24 before a
Mollie Wadsworth (Hernando, Miss./Northpoint Christian HS) kill knotted the set one final time. A double-block by Wadsworth and
Gennah Schoen (Portland, Ore./David Douglas HS) gave CBU the lead, and an error gave CBU a 27-25 win.
• The Lady Bucs needed another comeback in the third set to clinch the sweep. The Tigers jumped to a 16-10 lead, then the Lady Bucs halved the deficit at 16-13 on another Miller block. Eventually, a four-point run capped by an
Erica Maurer (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) kill knotted the set at 19, but UWA again answered, going ahead 22-20 and then 23-21 before the Lady Bucs clinched the match, and home court advantage in a GSC quarterfinal match Tuesday night, on a Miller kill at 25-23.
KEY STATS:
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Emma Lenoir (Chattanooga, Tenn./East Hamilton HS) led CBU with 12 kills to go with four digs, hitting .276.
• Miller tied for third-most blocks in a three-set match in school history with eight, adding eight kills as she hit .438.
• Maurer hit .412 with eight kills and four blocks.
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Jessica Reber (Byron, Ill./Byron HS) dished out 32 assists to go with nine kills, seven digs and a pair of aces.
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Brinsley Cooper (Rossville, Ind./Rossville HS) added seven kills.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Bucs close out the regular season Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. as they host West Georgia for Senior Day. With the win, CBU will host the No. 5 seed Tuesday night in the GSC quarterfinals. Opponent and start time will be announced after the bracket is set.
