Memphis, TN- Christian Brothers volleyball showed grit and flashes of strong play across three tough matches at the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar, MO, proving they can compete with quality opponents.
In their opener against Harding, the Lady Bucs put on a thrilling five-set performance, storming back after dropping the first two frames to secure a 3–2 victory (12–25, 21–25, 25–22, 25–23, 15–11)
Ella Schumacher powered the offense with 16 kills, while
Abby Wheaton was a force at the net, tallying five block assists. Setter
Carleiny Morillo spread the ball well with 29 assists, and
Sophia Nowacki anchored the back row with 16 digs. CBU's balanced effort showed their resilience, with key late rallies in sets four and five sealing the comeback win.
Later that day, CBU faced a tough Missouri Southern State squad and fell in straight sets (23–25, 13–25, 16–25)
Despite the setback, the Lady Bucs showed bright spots—particularly in the first set, where they pushed MSSU to the brink before narrowly falling. Schumacher once again led with 10 kills, supported by Sarah Helms hitting an impressive .600 clip with six kills. Ava Hillyer kept the offense running with eight assists, while Nowacki dug up five tough attacks from the Lions.
The weekend closed with a matchup against host Southwest Baptist, where CBU dropped a tight three-set battle (21–25, 22–25, 14–25)
The Bucs were in striking distance throughout, with set two coming down to just a few key points. Schumacher posted nine kills, while Calah Jackson added six. Defensively, Lilly Oxford and Nowacki combined for 28 digs, keeping rallies alive against SBU's high-powered attack.
While the Lady Bucs finished 1–2 on the weekend, their play showcased growth and competitive fight. CBU's win over Harding highlighted their ability to close under pressure, and in both losses, the team kept themselves within reach thanks to balanced scoring and strong defensive efforts.
With momentum from their gritty five-set win and lessons learned from the tough battles, the Lady Bucs leave Bolivar with confidence and hunger for the next stretch of the season.
