Pioneers Winless in Walnut Ridge

Pioneers Winless in Walnut Ridge- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 9/10/22

CRC traveled to Walnut Ridge for a Tri-Match against Jarvis Chriastian College and host team, Williams Baptist University on Saturday, September 10th . The Lady Pioneers went  winless in their match ups, losing  game one against JCC after a five set battle (14-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 9-15) and losing three straight to host WBU. (16-25, 24-26, 20-25)

Game One 

Crowley's Ridge College- 2

Jarvis Christian College- 3

Crowley's Ridge would enter today's Tri-Match against a hot JCC who had just defeated WBU in a 5 set match in the previous contest. Early in the match CRC would seem to have an answer for the Bulldogs keeping the game a close contest until about midway through the first set the  Bulldogs would pull away with a 10-5 lead over the Pioneers. Kills from junior Emi Elms and sophomore Paige Glenn would try to deter the Bulldogs but wouldn't as they would extend their lead to 14-10 before going on a 11-4 run taking set one.  

Set two the Pioneers would continue to struggle falling behind the Bulldogs 17-10. Just like that, the Pioneers would rally going on a 10-1 run taking the lead late in the set 19-18. CRC would then give up 4 straight points forcing a CRC timeout. When play resumed, CRC would answer the Bulldogs with a 6-1 run finishing them off in the second set 25-23.

Set three would be the tie breaker for the leverage in the match up. The score would be a fight, back and forth, no one dominating the other until the teams reached late in the set tied with a score of 19-19. Jarvis Christian would go on a 6-1 run taking the set 25-20. 

Set four would be much of the same story. No team dominating the other until a turning point late in the set. After a few long rallies, and several fabulous digs by junior Hannah Halverson and freshmen Holly Berry, junior Elms would have a big kill to make the score 20-15. Even with this lead the Pioneers would have to work for the next 5 points. Sophomore Paige Glenn would end the set for JCC with a kill , set up by none other than Jadyn Hesse. CRC wins set four 25-20. For the first time this season, CRC would enter into the 5th set. 

Jarvis with the experience of a set five from earlier in the day against WBU would know what to do. JCC did not panic when CRC came out strong, they held their ground and retook the lead and CRC never regained it. Final score of the 5th set JCC 15- CRC 9. 

(Jr.) Emi Elms and (So.) Paige Glenn led the Pioneers in kills (9) each, (So.) Jadyn Hesse Led the Pioneers in assists (27), (Jr.) Heather Conaway led the Pioneers in digs (11), Followed by (Jr.) Hannah Halverson and (Fr.) Kinley Matlock with (10) each. 

Game Two

Crowley's Ridge-0

Willimas Baptist- 3

In Set one, Williams would strike first by winning the first two points of the set. Junior Brooklynn Passmore would step up for CRC with a kill and then a service ace getting things back to square one. WBU, having a break in between matches, seemed fresh and started tacking points on CRC and before long led the Pioneers 20-11. CRC would go on to lose set one with a score of 25-16.

Set two the Pioneers were able to get things going their way. From here on out, WBU had to earn every point they won. Being down 5-6, CRC would go on a 7-1 point run, taking the lead with the help of 4 kills, 11-7, forcing a WBU timeout. After the timeout, the Eagles would chip away at the score until CRC found themselves with just a 2 point lead, 19-17. These two teams would fight for every advantage but the end result would be a tie game 23-23. Sophomore Paige Glenn would have a major kill giving CRC the advantage, surely sealing the set for CRC but WBU would not fold delivering three consecutive kills taking the set 26-24. 

Set three the Lady Pioneers dug deep and led out with a hard attack plan. CRC quickly went on a 8-2 run, midway through the set leading the eagles 13-9. WBU would come back with a 7-2 run of their own, retaking the lead 16-15. CRC would take a timeout once WBU took a 20-18 lead. Looking for a rally, CRC could not find it. WBU would take set three and the match with a final set score of 25-20. 

(Jr.) Hannah Halverson led the Pioneers in kills (8), (So.) Jadyn Hesse led the Pioneers in assists (23), (Fr.) Kinley Matlock led the Pioneers in digs (17) 

The Lady Pioneers look to reset on Tuesday, September 13th in a Tri-Match in Jackson, TN vs Lane College and Freed Hardeman University.