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Bradley volleyball loses two conference matches

Freshman Jamie LIvaudais attempts a block in Bradley’s first win of the season against Evansville. Photo by Dan Smith
Freshman Jamie LIvaudais attempts a block in Bradley’s first win of the season against Evansville. Photo by Dan Smith

Coming off its first win of the season, Bradley’s volleyball team dropped two matches to conference foes on Friday and Saturday.

The Braves faced off against Indiana State on Friday, losing in four tough sets 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21. In the first set, Bradley hit .417 compared to Indiana State’s .323. However, with the help of six aces, the Sycamore’s were able to pull out the close win.

The Braves managed to keep the second set close until Indiana State pulled off a 7-0 run on their way to winning the set 25-19. The Braves were able to withstand the sweep with a 25-20 win in the third set, behind six digs from Lea Sack and five blocks from the team. Despite a great effort in the fourth set, the Braves ultimately came up short, losing 25-21.

“We played an Indiana State team that’s in contention for the conference championship,” head coach Jenny Maurer said, “You could argue that we had the opportunity to win. We’re playing our best volleyball to date.”

There were many team and individual highlights for the Braves on Friday. They had 10 aces and 12 blocks, both season-highs. Freshman Jamie Livaudais’s hit .378 percentage with a season-best 17 kills. Junior Lea Sack finished with a match-best 19 digs and a career-high three aces. Junior Cordelia Murphy finished with six kills and five blocks.

“Jamie had her best match offensively,” Maurer said. “For an outside hitter to hit at that efficiency is impressive.”

The Braves took on the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) leader Illinois State a day later, losing all three sets 25-16.

It was the runs that killed Bradley. In the first set, the Braves hung around until the Redbirds went on a late 8-2 run to take the opener. In the second set, the Redbirds went on an early 7-1 run and finished off the set with an 8-1 run.

The Braves were only down 11-10 midway through the third set, until the Redbirds went on a 9-1 run and ended up sweeping the match.

Freshman Afton Sobasky notched her eighth double-double of the season with 21 assists and 14 digs.
“Afton played very well,” Maurer said. “She distributed well as a setter and kept the defense honest by making them respect her as an offensive threat.”

Livaudais and freshman Taylor Thiele tied for a team-high with seven kills. Sack finished with 16 digs.
“We’re playing teams that we’ve played well against on the road early in the season. Now they are coming to our place, and we’re just focusing on being better the second time through.”

The Braves will finish off the season with a three-match homestand, beginning next Saturday against Loyola at 7 p.m.

Maurer said the team’s mindset is going to be to keep competing and trying to climb the MVC ranks.

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