MEMPHIS, Tn. – Energy, heart, and hustle filled Canale Arena on Tuesday night as the Christian Brothers University Lady Buccaneers went toe-to-toe with Lee University. Despite stretches of dominant play and a thrilling second-set win, CBU ultimately fell 3–1 (9–25, 25–23, 23–25, 18–25) in an intense Gulf South Conference battle.

After a rocky start in the first set, the Lady Bucs came alive in the second — and the crowd could feel the shift. Ella Schumacher caught fire at the net, hammering home a match-high 14 kills while Sarah Helms added power and poise from the middle. A well-placed service ace and a crucial block helped CBU close the frame 25–23, swinging all the momentum to the home side.

The third set was a thriller from start to finish. The Lady Bucs traded blows with Lee, neither team able to pull away. Ava Hillyer and Carleiny Morillo kept the offense humming with quick, sharp sets, while Oluwaseun Osayemi made her presence known with key blocks and powerful kills. The teams were deadlocked late, but Lee managed a narrow 25–23 win to retake control.

Even trailing, the Lady Bucs refused to fold. Helms delivered clutch kills and three big blocks, while CBU's defense — anchored by Sophia Nowacki's 13 digs — dug deep to keep rallies alive. Every point was earned in the fourth, but Lee's late surge proved the difference.

Despite the setback, the Lady Bucs showed growth, and their continued fight kept the crowd on its feet. With their chemistry building and offensive depth on display, CBU (7–10, 2–4 GSC) left no doubt that they're trending in the right direction heading into the heart of conference play.