Box Score BELLEVUE, NEB. --
Emily Becker's strong hitting performance could not lift the William Woods University volleyball team past John Brown University, dropping its final match in the Bellevue Labor Day Classic 3-1 (20-25, 14-25, 28-26, 18-25).
The sophomore registered double-digits for the first time in two games, as she collected 10 kills on an impressive .434 attack percentage. It was a rebounding effort for Becker, who in her last two games collected just 16 total kills, after positing 29 in the season's first two matches.
William Woods (0-5) once again fell victim to elongated rallies in the Classic's final match, as John Brown University (3-4) used runs of 8-0, 16-6, and 6-0 in each of their set wins to defeat the Owls in four sets.
After a Sara Stevenson kill, WWU trailed JBU 9-7 in the first set. The Golden Eagles scored the sets next eight points to take a commanding 17-7 lead. The Owls fought back to bring the game within four points at 22-18. Yet, John Brown was able to stop the WWU rally, and scored the set victory 25-20.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the second set, as that would be all the room they needed to score the 25-14 win.
William Woods jumped out to a 13-9 lead in set three, before John Brown University battled back to tie the game at 18-18. Up 24-22, John Brown could not seal the deal, as a service error gave the ball back to William Woods.
Stevenson and Sarah Evans came up with a critical block to tie the game a 24-24, and a Becker service ace gave them the 25-24 lead. Just like JBU, the Owls could not close the set on their next serve to extend the game. Leading 27-26, freshman Shelby Hinshaw was able to collect the sets final point with a service ace, giving the Owls a 28-26 win.
Both teams struggled to get a kind of advantage in set four's first 26 points, as things we knotted at 13-13. Yet, the Golden Eagles ripped off three consecutive points to take the 16-13 lead. John Brown University closed out the set on a 9-5 run to take set four 25-18.
The Owls collected 54 digs, led by Hinshaw's 12. Kristen Bauer was just one kill away from her second consecutive double-double, as she finished the match with 11 digs and nine kills.
William Woods went winless on the weekend as they dropped all four matches of the Labor Day Classic.
The Owls will return home on Tuesday, as they search for the season's first win as they host Lindenwood University-Belleville in the 2013 home opener. First serve from Anderson Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full recap of this and every game during the 2013 season.
