Springfield, MO – Coming off a tough home opener loss Tuesday, August 28th, the Bears Volleyball team rebounded with two wins in a triangular hosted by Central Bible College (CBC).

The Bears squared off against CBC in their first match. In the opening set, the Bears set the tone early with a number digs and several of their 31 offensive kills for the match to take the first set 25-16. Sets two (25-16) and three (25-22) followed suit and the Bears were able to get their first win of the season with a sweep against the host school. Defensively Fr. Courtney Gillaspy (Medina, TX) led the Bears with five digs, So. Dani Gressel (South Haven, KS) put 12 of her 13 passes on target while Fr. libero Lauren Wells (Halstead, KS) put 86% of her passes on target. Offensively, upperclassman Jr. Sarah Sullivan (San Antonio, TX) and Sr. Katie Cruse (San Dimes, CA) had 11 and 10 kills respectively.

In the Bears second match of the day, they faced off against Champion Baptist (Hot Springs, AR). The Tigers of Champion Baptist came out ready to play and took the opening set 25-15. However, the Bears were able to adjust to the Tigers scrappy style of play and won the next three sets 25-16, 25-15, and 25-18. Champion Baptist’s decision not to block paved the way for 37 kills by the Bears led by Sullivan’s 17. Cruse was also in double digits with 11. So. Kalyn Switzer (Weatherford, OK) followed up a 25 assist match earlier in the day with a 31 assist match again Champion Baptist.

“I was very pleased with the team playing together and making necessary adjustments during the course of the matches today,” said Head Coach Shari Bryan. “It was good to get a couple wins under our belt as we get ready to play a regional competitor in Hillsdale.”

The Bears (2-1, 0-0) will host NCCAA Southwest Region rival Hillsdale Freewill Baptist (Moore, OK) at 5:00 PM CST on Tuesday, September 4th.