Eagles Take Hard-Fought Win Over CBC

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (10/24/24) – The Williams Baptist University volleyball team came out on top 3-2 in a thrilling five-set matchup with in-state rival Central Baptist on Thursday night.

Tinleigh Ruhman and Jayla Weddington tied for the team lead in kills, each with 13.  Ruhman led the team in hitting percentage with a .440 night.  Ruhman also recorded five blocks up front.  Meadow Jones followed close behind with four blocks on the evening.  As a team, the Eagles held the Mustangs to a .063 hitting percentage.  

WBU took control of the match in the first set, taking eight of the match's first 10 points behind the strong serves of Alonna Thomas and Riley Henson to force a CBC timeout.  After falling behind 18-9, the Mustangs crawled back into the set after a Madeline Freeman kill made it 23-22.  However, the Eagles were able to capitalize on two attack errors to take the first set 25-23.

After falling behind 10-3 in the second set, the Eagles followed the strong serve of Faith Raymond to get back within two and force a CBC timeout.  The Eagles tied the set at 21 all thanks to a kill from Jaycie Cook, but were unable to close out the second set, falling 25-22.

WBU rattled off a 12-3 run in the third set to take a 23-17 lead late in the third, and closed out the set win on a Riley Henson ace to take a 2-1 series lead.

In the fourth set, the Mustangs rallied for a 4-1 run out of a timeout to take a 23-19 lead late.  The Eagles managed to crawl back, tying the set at 24 with a kill from Jayla Weddington, but were unable to finish the job, conceding the last two points and falling 26-24 to fourth a deciding fifth set.

Williams ran away with the lead in the fifth, taking a 14-8 lead after a 5-1 run forced a Mustang timeout.  Weddington collected the final kill with authority to send the home crowd home happy with a 15-11 win in the set, and a 3-2 victory in the match.  WBU held Central Baptist to a -.074 hitting percentage in the fifth set to close out the win.  

The win moves the Eagles to 6-17 on the season, and 2-5 in AMC play.

WBU will return to the court on Saturday, Oct. 26 for Senior Day against Tougaloo.  The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start time from the Southerland-Mabee Center on the campus of Williams Baptist University.