Livingston, AL- Christian Brothers University volleyball walked into Pruitt Hall on Thursday night knowing exactly what was at stake, and they walked out with one of their grittiest wins of the season. In a back-and-forth showdown that lasted nearly two and a half hours, the Lady Bucs outlasted West Alabama in a five-set thriller (16–25, 25–17, 21–25, 25–17, 15–13), showcasing resilience, poise, and a full-team effort when it mattered most.

After a slow start in Set 1, CBU immediately punched back. The Lady Bucs dominated Set 2 behind a clean offensive rhythm, swinging an impressive .457 hitting percentage as Ella Schumacher, Addison Waggoner, and Calah Jackson found their groove. Momentum kept shifting as both sides traded runs, but CBU continued answering every challenge.

Set 4 proved to be the turning point. With their backs against the wall, the Lady Bucs locked in defensively, highlighted by several key blocks from Sarah Helms and timely digs from Sophia Nowacki, who finished the night with a team-high 32. Their energy carried into the fifth, where Schumacher and Helms delivered clutch kills, and Lilly Oxford stepped up with two huge service aces to give CBU the final push they needed.

Schumacher led the team with 21 kills, Waggoner followed with 15, and Helms added 13 and four blocks in one of her strongest outings of the season. Setter Carleiny Morillo controlled the offense with 53 assists and three aces of her own.

In a hostile road environment, CBU stayed composed, stayed connected, and closed the match on their terms, another sign of a program that's learning how to finish big moments.

A statement win, a resilient performance, and a reminder: the Lady Bucs are built for battles like this.