WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL LOSES TOUGH, FOUR-SET AFFAIR TO BAKER

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Another close match did not go Avila's way on Friday night as the Eagles fell 3-1 to Baker at Mabee Fieldhouse.

The visiting Wildcats took the first set handily, 25-12, but Avila would knot things up in the second.

The teams played back and forth early in the second before the Eagles took control in the 10^th point. Back-to-back attack errors from Baker gave Avila a 7-5 lead and the home team would not look back.

Kills from Sydney Owens and Emerson Sweet plus consecutive services aces from Maddie Jones gave Avila breathing room before a brief run from Baker. Holding a 13-10 lead, Avila would go on a 7-2 run before ultimately taking the set 25-20, off a kill from Sydney Owens.

The third set was another tight frame. Baker held a 5-1 lead early in the set, but a 4-1 run from the Eagles brought them right back into the set. From there, neither team would lead by more than three leading up to Baker's 6-1 run to close the set out, 25-19.

After an 8-8 tie midway through the fourth set, Baker took control and wrapped up the final set and the match, 25-17.

Sophia Giorgio (16) and Sydney Owens (13) each had double-digit digs for Avila while Maddie Jones' three service aces were a game-high. Sydney Owens (18) and Da'Mya Dickson (14) led Avila with double-figure assists. 

The Eagles will look to snap their five-match losing streak on Friday at 4:30 PM right back at Mabee Fieldhouse, taking on Culver-Stockton in the program's penultimate non-conference match of 2025.

(photo credit: Victoria White)