The Blackburn College Volleyball Team jumped out to a 12-1 first set lead but was not able to finish in a 3 set loss to St. Mary of the Woods College Pomeroys on Saturday in Carlinville. The match was the season opener for both teams as SMWC won 26-24, 25-15, and 30-28. After the Beavers jumped out to the 12-1 lead they were in control of the first set up to leading 19-9 before the Pomeroys rattled off ten consecutive points to tie the match. The remainder of the set was back and forth with only one point separating the teams until the Pomeroys scored the final two points of the set.
In set two, the Pomeroys jumped out to a 8-3 lead and were in control of the remainder of the set while set three went back and forth. SMWC jumped out to an early 8-3 lead again, but this time the Beavers rallied as Autumn Wilson had a pair of service aces in a 6-0 run for the Beavers which gave Blackburn a 21-16 lead. Blackburn couldn't finish as the Pomeroys scored seven of the next eight points to lead 23-22. A couple late service errors doomed the Beavers.
Sophomores Lucy Magnussen and Kasey Bean led the Beavers with twelve kills each. Kendall Burleyson had 20 assists for the Beavers while Kaitlyn Wiegand had four service aces.
Blackburn will return to action next Wednesday with a match at Lincoln College.