JBU volleyball defeats Wayland Baptist

Junior Jessica Meyer turned in a 17-kill performance and the John Brown University volleyball team submitted its second-best hitting effort of the season to ride away with a 3-1 (2520, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23) win over Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Friday evening inside Bill George Arena.

The win improves the Golden Eagles to 4-5 overall with a 4-1 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play. Competing in front of the rowdy Bill George Arena fans seemed to have a positive impact on JBU’s hitting performance, as three attackers finished with double-digit kills.

In the three matches it won, John Brown hit a combined .324, paced by Meyer’s .762 attacking night, including a trio of blocks. Junior Megan Beck contributed a season-high 13 terminations while senior Bayli Reagan added 12 kills and eight digs.

“It was great to finally have the opportunity to play at home and in front of our fans, head coach Ken Carver said. “We were able to be in system, offensively, most of tonight and Carrie (Ciesla) and Elizabeth (Williams) did a good job of putting our offensive players in good positions to score.

“We’ve been trying to emphasize getting our middles more swings and I was pleased that both of our setters did a good job of executing on that and was happy to see both Lindsey (Davis) and Jessica (Meyer) have big nights for us offensively.”

Junior Lindsey Davis added nine kills and two blocks on the evening.

Jenna Lowery finished the contest with a seasonbest 24 digs.

WBU’s Mallorie Ellis finished with 19 kills, four blocks and six digs and Kellie Kozak contributed 11 terminations in the loss.

JBU returned to action Saturday against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Results were not available at presstime.