HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Lady Eagles hung tough on the road against William Carey Saturday but Faulkner just couldn't find the needed runs against the one-loss Crusaders in a 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21) defeat.

Faulkner took a 12-11 lead in the first set, but WCU pulled together a 7-2 run to take control of the set. While threatening, Faulkner never returned the difference to fewer than two. 

An early 5-5 tie turned into a 9-5 advantage for the Lady Eagles quickly with a kill from Molly Presnell, an ace from Alexis McInroy and a block from Presnell and Mallory Black. The Crusaders kept the set close until another 4-0 run put Faulkner up 17-10. The hosts did not go away quietly in the set though, whittling the lead back down to just four at 22-18. Black picked up two kills to close out the set however and won just the second set by a visiting team at William Carey this season.

The Crusaders took over in cruise control in the third set fueled by a 6-0 run to take a 13-8 lead to 19-8. Trying to extend the match in the fourth, Faulkner trailed 16-12, but pulled together a 5-0 swing with a pair of blocks from Julia Rice and Charlee Jordan to take a one-point lead. William Carey responded with a 6-1 run though to take control back in the match and see it out. 

Presnell and McInroy each had double-digit digs. Presnell and Haven Owings ended with double-figure kills. Alyssa Stagner and Mandi Hart combined for 41 assists. Faulkner totaled 10 blocks led by Rice's five and Jordan's four to double the hosts' block totals. William Carey's biggest statistical difference maker was the 19 more digs than their guests on the afternoon.

Faulkner (19-10, 7-6 SSAC) sits in sixth in the SSAC but is just one game behind fourth place Mobile who they travel to Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Read Full Article