MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Kentucky Wesleyan College volleyball team earned their first win of the 2019 season on Saturday, splitting day two of the Christian Brothers Classic in Memphis, Tenn.  Wesleyan defeated Maryville in their morning match before falling to host Christian Brothers in the night cap.

The Panthers rebounded from Friday's slow start, pouncing on the Saints early and often. In the opening set Wesleyan won nine of 11 points to take a commanding 21-14 lead.  A service error by the Saints capped off the set, giving the Panthers a 25-22 victory and a 1-0 lead. '
 
The momentum continued in the second set as the Panthers won the first four points and eight of the first nine. The Saints battled back to square the match at 14, but Wesleyan again found a second gear. The Panthers won five of the next six point to take a 19-15 lead and eventually took a 2-0 lead after a 25-22 win.
 
Wesleyan saved the best for last as the held an .346 attacking percentage en route to a 25-22 third set victory. The victory did not come easy as the Saints held a 20-18 lead late in the set, but kills by Julia Moran and Jaylen McEwen helped the Panthers win four of five points and take a 21-20 lead. Lydia Jackson capped-off three straight Panther points to end the match with a kill.
 
Sierra Morrow and Karrah Cron each finished with nine kills. McEwen added four aces and five digs while Jackson recorded 17 assists.

The intensity grew in the second match of the day as the Panthers and host Buccaneers went back-and-forth throughout the first set. In the the latter moments of the opening set the Panthers won five of six points to take a 21-18 lead. Then later after ball handling error received a set point. However, the Buccaneers responded and closed out the opening set 27-25.
 
In the second set the Buccaneers found their offense of rhythm and won 12 of 13 points to take a commanding 18-11 lead. Nevertheless, the Panthers rallied late to close within one at 21 to 20. Christian Brothers settled back in to take the second set and even the match after a 25-20 win.
 
The Panthers matched the Buccaneers point for point throughout of the third set. In the end Christian brothers took a 2-1 lead after a 25-23 victory in the third set.
 
A 6-0 run in the fourth set gave the Buccaneers a 15-8. The Panthers did not get within better than four points the rest of the way as Christian brothers closed out the match 25-20. Wesleyan hit over .300 in the final set but it was not enough to square the match. McEwen finished with 12 kills while Nicole Martin added 12. Corn recorded 22 assists while Jackson added 19 assists and seven digs.
 
The Panthers will host the Kentucky Wesleyan invitational next weekend. Wesleyan will face Bluefield State at 2 PM on Friday.