Hornets Best Pioneers Once More

Hornets Best Pioneers Once More-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 9/26/23

Crowley's Ridge College hosted the Hornets of Harris-Stowe State University this evening in the Carter Activities Center in search of snapping their two-game losing streak and achieving revenge as the Hornets beat the Pioneers in their season opener back on August 24th. A hot start from the Hornets forced CRC to play from behind in the evening's contest but after 4 sets the Pioneers' efforts came to an end with HSSU besting CRC once more. Sets went as follows, 21-25 HSSU, 19-25 HSSU, 25-22 CRC, and 22-25 HSSU. 

Paragould, Ark. - The Lady Pioneers took an early set one lead by climbing ahead 4-0 with the Hornets struggling to find their rhythm on the Pioneers' home court. It wouldn't take the visiting team long to settle in as they linked together a 6-0 run to retake the lead 6-4. CRC went point for point with the Hornets for the majority of the set and even saw the lead lean in CRC's favor as freshman Mariah Fudge stuffed the Hornets at the net and junior Alexis Weirich followed with a kill giving CRC a 3-point lead, 17-14. But even with the big plays from CRC, the Hornets rallied to overcome and take the opening set with an explosive 11-3 run to close it out. Set two CRC's defense showed a splash of life as sophomore Kinley Matlock extended a rally with a pancake dig giving CRC a chance to take a 9-8 advantage over HSSU. Freshman Jillian Glasgow extended the Pioneer lead a few serves later by landing back-to-back service aces but the Hornets took control of Pioneer errors and tied the set 12-12. HSSU donated a few points back to CRC along with Glasgow and junior Paige Gelnn adding to the CRC kill total, which forced a Hornets timeout as a three-point advantage of 18-15 was in favor of Crowley's Ridge. When play resumed, the Pioneers watched the lead and set slip between their fingers as the Hornets manufactured a 10-1 run. CRC stopped play twice by burning both of their timeouts but couldn't find the answer to the Hornet swarm.  In the third, the Pioneers came together at the midway point with senior Emi Elms standing firm at the net, rejecting HSSU's attack as Elms produced two big back-to-back blocks. Senior Hannah Halverson followed Elms' blocks by stepping behind the service line and leading the Pioneers on a 10-0 run to reclaim the lead 19-13. The Pioneers piggy-backed off the two seniors' efforts and won the set 25-22, with Glasgow ending the set with a quick dump pass over the net that found the hardwood. Set four, the Pioneers struggled out the gate, falling back 8-3 to the Hornets. Like in set three, Halverson encouraged the Pioneer offense again from behind the service line as CRC rallied off a 7-0 run retaking the lead 16-14. From here to the end of the match the Pioneers went toe-to-toe with the Hornets. Unfortunately, the Pioneers found themselves on the losing side of a couple of crucial rallies which ultimately doomed CRC in the fourth and final set. 

Junior Jadyn Hesse was the only Pioneer to end the matchup with a double-double performance (16) assists and (10) digs. Senior Emi Elms led in kills with (9) and produced (3) blocks in the contest. Senior Hannah Halverson led in digs with (20) and added (3) service aces in the matchup. Freshman Jillian Glasgow also added (3) service aces in the loss. 

The Pioneers look to bounce back as they travel to Springfield, MO to take on Baptist Bible College on Thursday, September 28th. #GOPIONEERS