Memphis, Tenn. – Christian Brothers volleyball showed grit and determination Tuesday night, taking Lee University to a decisive fifth set before ultimately falling 3–2 (19–25, 25–14, 24–26, 25–23, 15–13) in Gulf South Conference play at Paul Dana Walker Arena.
The Lady Buccaneers came out strong, capitalizing on early momentum to take the opening set 25–19. Lee responded with a dominant second set, but CBU refused to back down, edging out a dramatic 26–24 win in the third to regain the lead. The Flames battled back in the fourth and held off a late CBU surge in the final frame to secure the match.
Christian Brothers tallied 48 kills on the night, led by Ella Schumacher's 15 and Calah Jackson's 14, as the duo powered the offense. Schumacher also contributed three blocks and four digs, while Jackson added five digs of her own. Setter Ava Hillyer kept the attack flowing with 22 assists, five service aces, and a key kill late in the third set.
Defensively, Sophia Nowacki anchored the back row with 17 digs, while Addison Waggoner chipped in 15. At the net, Sarah Helms and Oluwaseun Osayemi combined for 12 block assists to slow down Lee's offense.
Despite the setback, the Lady Buccaneers out-served the Flames with 12 aces and showcased their resilience in a match that featured 28 ties and 13 lead changes.
Christian Brothers (5–7, 0–1 GSC) will look to build on the fight they displayed as conference play continues, while Lee (5–5, 1–0 GSC) celebrated its first league victory of the season.
