PITTSBURG, Kansas-The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split two matches Saturday in the Pittsburg State Classic, defeating Cameron in a thrilling five-set match before losing to host Pittsburg State in straight sets.
CBU 3, Cameron 2 (25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-12)
WHAT HAPPENED:
#Emma Lenoir# blasted a career-high 29 kills, second-most in a match in school history, as the Lady Bucs (3-5) claimed a thrilling five-set win over Cameron in an evenly-matched contest that saw 43 ties and 20 lead changes.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Lady Bucs used an 8-2 burst to blow open a 9-all tie and take a 17-11 lead on a #Joze Smith# ace in the first set. They would lead by as many as nine points before winning 25-18.
• The second set was back and forth, with no lead larger than three points. The Aggies (1-7) used a four-point run to turn a 20-19 CBU lead into a 23-20 Cameron edge, holding on for a 25-22 win.
• Again in the third set, a late Cameron run broke open a tight set. This time, the Aggies used a four-point burst to break a 17-all tie, taking a 21-17 edge on their way to a 25-20 win.
• The Aggies' run came early in the fourth set, using a four-point burst to take a 10-5 lead. They would eventually extend their advantage to six points at 20-14 before CBU used a three-point burst to trim it to 20-17. Cameron served for match point ahead 24-20, but the Lady Bucs scored the final six points, capped by a #Miaya Smith# ace to force a decisive fifth set.
• The fifth set was another back-and-forth affair, with no lead of more than two points and no run of more than four points, and the only four-point run ended the match. Cameron took its last lead at 12-11 before the Lady Bucs closed the match with four straight,  first on a #Mollie Wadsworth# kill, then they took the lead for good on a double-block by Lenoir and Miaya Smith. After an attack error, they scored match point on a Lenoir kill.
KEY STATS:
• Lenoir hit .258 with 29 kills, 14 digs and two blocks. Her 30 points matched her career-best, good for second in school history.
• Miaya Smith hit .615 with 18 kills, six digs, four blocks and two aces.
• Wadsworth hit .303 with 13 kills and three blocks.
• #Anna Graziosi# dished out 30 assists with three digs.
• #Alex Henderson# added 24 assists, seven digs and an ace.
• #Blythe Clausen# garnered 12 digs.
NOTABLE:
• Lenoir's 29 kills were the second-most in a match in school history, behind Alexis Gillis, who had 32 kills against Alabama Huntsville Sept. 25, 2015.
• Her 30 points matched a 30-point effort last Saturday morning against Arkansas-Monticello for second-most in a match in school history. Gillis racked up 32 against UAH in 2015.
• Miaya Smith's .615 hitting percentage is 11th-best in a match in school history with a minimum of 20 attempts.
Pittsburg State 3, CBU 0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-13):
WHAT HAPPENED:
The Gorillas (7-0) remained unbeaten with a three-set win over CBU.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• PSU used an 8-1 run to take command of the opening set, building a 16-10 lead, and they pulled away to a 25-16 win in the set.
• The Lady Bucs led for much of the second set after using a five-point run to take a 9-6 lead on an #Abby Stutz# kill. The Gorillas used a five-point run of their own to regain the lead for good at 20-17 en route to a 25-20 win.
• The teams traded runs early in the third set, but after CBU used a four-point run to take an 11-9 lead on a double-block by Wadsworth and Miaya Smith, the Gorillas outscored them 16-2 the rest of the way to win 25-12 and clinch the sweep.
KEY STATS:
• Lenoir had 11 kills, five digs and an ace, all team-highs.
• Miaya Smith added six kills.
• Graziosi had 14 assists and five digs.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Bucs hit the road again next weekend for their final tuneup before GSC play with three matches in the Union University Volleyball Classic. CBU faces Belmont Abbey Friday night at 5 p.m. before playing Henderson State and LeMoyne-Owen Saturday. Their next home match is Friday, Sept. 14, when they host Alabama Huntsville at 7 p.m.
