Point Lookout, MO – After a tough couple of contests in their last two matches, the College of the Ozarks Lady Bobcat Volleyball team wrapped up the regular season Tuesday at Keeter Gymnasium. Looking to avenge an earlier loss, the Lady Cats were set to take on the Patriots of Baptist Bible College.
The Lady Cats jumped out to an early set one lead with kills from Brooklyn Crawford and Grace Hancock, but the Patriots quickly responded. The teams battled back and forth until BBC opened a 10-7 lead and it was time for the Lady Cats to answer. BB C continued to apply pressure and maintained a slight advantage through the midway point of the set. Trailing 15-14, Abby Chadwell slammed down three straight kills to give the Lady Cats the lead. The Patriots battled back to tie the score 17-17 but kills by Kamryn Link and Hancock were followed by a pair of BBC errors and the Patriots needed a timeout. Now leading 21-17, The Lady Cats applied some pressure of their own. A Christa Duffel kill bumped the score to 22-18 before the Patriots mounted a comeback. Four unanswered BBC points evened the score, but a service error, a Kamryn Link ace, and another BBC miscue finished off the set for the 25-22 Lady Cat win.
Set two saw the Lady Cats pounce on the Patriots and kills by Crawford and Linihan were combined with a Mica Chadwell ace and the score was quickly 7-1. The Patriots regained their composure and slowly chipped away at the Lady Cat lead. C of O continued to hold off the challenges of the Patriots and maintained a slim advantage. Leading 15-14, Bailey Chamberlain drove one home and Christa Duffel followed with a kill of her own. A BBC error provided some breathing room, and the Lady Cat lead grew to 19-15. The Lady Cats continued to squelch the Patriot comeback and a pair of Bailey Chamberlain kills sealed the 25-22 win.
BBC jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in set three as they had their backs to the wall. The Lady Cat struggled to get the offense going and the Patriots continued to turn up the heat. Trailing 10-7, the Lady Cats needed to respond if they planned to shut the match down in three. A Bailey Chamberlain kill started the shift and kills by Crawford, Linehan, and Crawford again cut the gap to 12-11. A BBC error tied the score, and Bri Linahan pounded a ball down on the BBC side of the net for the first Lady Cat lead. With a definite swing in momentum, the Lady Cats needed to capitalize. They used a pair of BBC errors and an Abby Chadwell kill to take control and built the lead to 20-15. BBC was unable to overcome the Lady Cat attack and kills by Chadwell, Duffel, and Crawford set up match point. Christa Duffel took the honors for the final point and slammed one down to seal the 25-19 set win, and 3-0 match win.
The Lady Cat offense was led by Bri Linehan with 11 kills, Abby Chadwell with nine, and Brooklyn Crawford with eight. Kamryn Link returned from an injury to set up 25 assists while Abby Chadwell dished out 11 of her own. Mica Chadwell anchored the defense with 23 Digs.
The Lady Cats will now prepare for the Continental Conference Tournament where they will, November 9-11 where they will face Florida National University, Florida College, and Haskell Indian Nations University for a chance to advance to the NAIA National Tournament.