Parkville, Mo. - The No. 19 Central Methodist Volleyball program saw its six-match win streak come to an end at the hands of No. 8 Park University Saturday afternoon in Parkville, Mo.
The Eagles fell to Park in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-21.
Central hung with the Pirates early in set one, as the set was tied at 15-15. However, Park pulled out in front by three with three-straight kills to take an 18-15 lead.
A kill by Annabelle Maassen brought Central to within two, before Park tallied another pair of kills to extend their set one lead to 20-16.
The Pirates closed the set scoring five of the final seven points to earn a 25-18 win in the first.
CMU battled adversity in the second set, as the Eagles found themselves trailing by as many as six. Central used a balanced attack of both strong hitting and defensive pressure at the net to rattle of six straight points to tie the set at 13-13.
The set remained even through the next five points, as both sides were tied at 18-18. Four straight kills from the Pirates put them out in front, 22-18. Central was unable to answer the Pirates attack, as Park took set two 25-21.
Similar to the second set, set three found the Eagles having to battle back from an early deficit.
Central clawed back late, as a kill from Morgan LeBlanc brought the Eagles within one, 19-18. Park scored five straight points to force match point at 24-18. CMU tallied three-straight kills from Delaney Miller, Sydney Healy, and Danika White to pull within three.
Park closed the set and match out with a kill, holding off any comeback chance for Central.
Miller led the CMU attackers with nine kills in addition to three blocks and a dig. Healy, LeBlanc, and Callie Henson each finished the match with six kills, while Henson added three digs and a pair of of blocks.
Ryleigh McBurney concluded the afternoon with a team-high 21 assists while freshman Drew Gayle dished out eight. Senior Krystal Brauner led the defensive effort for the Eagles with 13 digs, while Maassen added 12 digs in addition to two blocks.
The Eagles now stand at 17-7 and 11-3 in the Heart of America, and will next face MidAmerica Nazarene University Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Olathe, Kan.
Central won the earlier matchup against the Pioneers in straight sets back on Oct. 3 in Fayette.
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