MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - The Lady Barons Volleyball team started their campaign's conference play against the Life Running Eagles and, despite winning the first two sets, stumbled and lost to a reverse sweep. The Lady Barons were shown true adversity for the first time, and despite hanging on in a back-and-forth first set and running off an impressive eleven to two run to end the second set, the Lady Barons were unable to get it over the finish line and hold off the Running Eagles. The Lady Barons won the first set 25-23, the second set 25-16, and then lost the following three sets 25-13, 25-21, and finally 15-7 to end the match. 

Coach Obed Quiles kept it short tonight on what happened and how they need to improve. "Tough game tonight for us. We couldn't close out the game, and after our passing fell apart in the third set, we never recovered. We need to be tougher mentally and respond better; tomorrow will give us that exact opportunity."

First Set

The Lady Barons started the match against Life with a back-and-forth set, trading the lead throughout until the Lady Barons finally managed to take control at 16-15 and never lost the lead again. The Lady Barons had eight kills in the first set but saw their lowest hitting percentage of the year with a .074. The Running Eagles managed to trade points with the Lady Barons. 

Second Set

The Lady Barons responded in the second set, showing great response after trailing five to one to Life to start the set. The Lady Barons managed to get the game to 14 all and then showed off their skills with an impressive eleven-to-two run to cruise through the second set. The Lady Barons had 12 kills and an impressive hitting percentage of .458 and looked in good shape.

Third Set

The Lady Barons did everything they could to stop the tide from turning, but the Running Eagles grabbed the momentum in the third set and never gave it up again. The Running Eagles jumped all over the Lady Barons, taking a commanding lead to start the game of 12-5. Despite their best pushback, it was not enough as the Running Eagles cruised to a 25-13 score to reinvigorate their fans and gain a massive momentum swing.

Fourth Set

The fourth set saw another closely contested set between the Lady Barons and the Running Eagles. Both teams exchanged the lead four times early on and saw countless ties in the first 15 points of the game before Erica Irby of the Running Eagles managed to string together several service aces to put the Lady Barons back on their heels. Coach Obed Quiles tried to stop their momentum by calling a timeout down 18-14, but it was not enough as the Running Eagles took off and forced a winner-take-all fifth set.

Fifth Set

After losing two straight sets, the momentum and energy in the gymnasium were squarely behind the Life Running Eagles, and they used that to carry them to a swift 15-7 victory over our Lady Barons. The Lady Barons were never able to wrestle the lead from Life and suffered their first loss of the season, starting conference play with a loss. 

Stats

• The Lady Barons had 41 kills on the night with Kavlyn Hartmann leading with 15.

• The Lady Barons finished with eight aces on the night.

• The Lady Barons led with seven blocks to the Running Eagles four.  

• The Lady Barons trailed in assists 37-55, and Raphaela Felisberto had 31 tonight. 

• Amme Mobley had an impressive five solo blocks for the Lady Barons. 

Next Up

The Lady Barons have the chance to learn from their mistakes, shake off this loss, and respond against the Point University Skyhawks. They can also right their conference record and get the campaign back on track. 

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