by Ryan Bartels

MARIETTA, Ga. - Faulkner (3-3) opened play in the Running Eagle Classing hosted by Life University here this morning with a decisive straight-sets victory over Ave Maria (Fla.) 25-20, 25-13, 25-19 before hitting a wall halfway through its bout against Point (Ga.) this evening falling 23-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-12.

The Lady Eagles posted their second-highest hitting percentage so far this season (.243) against the Gyrenes in the opening match while also tying their single-game team block best with eight stops.

The Skyhawk contest proved a different problem altogether, however. After taking a tight opening set, Faulkner logged the widest margin of victory in the ensuing showdown before a questionable call deep in the third battle put the Lady Eagles on the wrong side of lead.

An out-of-rotation error that should have propelled Faulkner into a two-point advantage with just two points to play was mistakenly nullified and the Lady Eagles were unable reclaim the lead.

Faulkner trailed the entire fourth set and permanently surrendered the lead at the midway mark in the do-or-die fifth.

Freshman Kortney Barnes was largely to thank for Faulkner's impressive defensive effort up front today. The middle booked five total blocks against Ave Maria while driving home four kills, hitting .300.

Barnes went on to elevate those figures against the Skyhawks with what ultimately qualifies as a double-double performance. The newcomer thwarted 13 total attacks and accounted for nine of the team's incredible 17 total blocks; the most by a Faulkner squad in two years. Barnes also delivered 10 kills while hitting .231 on the flip side of play.

Outside hitter Cassie Bailie secured a double-double in the shorter of the two outings with 11 kills, hitting .308, while scooping 10 digs. The senior went on to record 14 digs in the second match along with six kills. She had seven block assists on the day.

Junior utility player Krystalynn Leomiti was the kill leader with 20, 14 of which came against Point in the nightcap. She also offered up 10 digs and six block assists.

Freshman middle Jade Brown, who made her season debut against the Gyrenes, was also impressive defensively with five total blocks while contributing 11 kills through the two matches.

The offense was fed by setters Ariana Vannoy and Katie Musser who dished out 41 and 30 assists, respectively. The duo also posted solid defensive numbers recording 17 and 16 digs with Musser edging her counterpart.

Libero Julianne Wilkes anchored the back row, as usual, and tallied 45 digs over the eight sets.

Faulkner will look to rebound from this evening's disappointing loss with a victory over former conference foe Breanu (Ga.) tomorrow at 8 a.m. central. The Lady Eagles then close out the Classic against Bluefield (Va.) at 2 p.m.