HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. - Stillman College won the first and fourth sets Friday evening but was unable to close out its first match victory of the season in a 3-2 loss at Rust College (18-25, 25-16, 25-19, 19-25, 15-12).
After trailing 6-1 in the first set, the Tigers took advantage of three-straight Bearcat errors to start an 13-1 run.
Rebecca Brogdon served up an ace to tie the set, 7-7, before
Raine Patterson slammed a kill to give the Tigers their first lead. Brogdon, who served nine-straight points had three aces during the run.
Gracie Fjeldstad also had a kill during the run.
Stillman's serve broke with a 14-7 lead. The seven-point lead was the largest of the night and season. Rust pulled within two points, 19-17, but
Aeraeonna Manuel tipped a point across to help Stillman close the set on a 6-1 run.
In the second set, Stillman fell behind early and got within a point, 12-11, but Rust responded with a 6-0 run to pull away.
The Tigers had a pair of early leads in the third set before Rust worked the set even, 9-9. After Rust took the lead, a Manuel kill cut Stillman's deficit to 17-16, but the Bearcats scored eight of the next 11 points.
After multiple ties in the fourth set, Stillman used a 4-0 run to the match, 14-14, and build a 17-14 lead. Rust fought back within a point, 18-17, before Patterson hammered a kill from the left side to spark a 7-2 run. Fjeldstad had an ace for the 20th point, and Manuel had a kill to create set point in Stillman's win.
Rust (1-5) carried the advantage throughout the fifth set before closing out the match on a Tigers' error for the Bearcats' first win of the season.
Manuel led Stillman with a career-high 13 kills, followed by Patterson's career-high nine kills. Fjeldstad collected 26 assists and three aces. Defensively,
Anniston Jones had 13 digs and
Emily Powell had 12.
Stillman (0-2) will continue its non-conference slate against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference foes this week when it travels to Oakwood University in Huntsville on Monday, Aug. 28 and hosts Talladega College in Birthright Alumni Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
