In a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, the Bryan Lady Bears volleyball team outlasted Hicksville in five thrilling sets: 15-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, and 15-12.
After dropping the opening set 15-25, the Lady Bears responded forcefully in the second set to even the match. The teams continued to trade set wins, pushing the non-conference clash into a decisive fifth set, where Bryan sealed the victory 15-12.
Kelsie Thiel led the attack on the front line, powering down a team-high 16 kills, while Alea Shilling provided strong net play with 10 kills of her own. Setter Jozie Cordy led the offense effectively, dishing out 38 assists while also making an impact at the service line with 3 aces.
Defensively, the Lady Bears anchored their backline behind Gisele Kidston, who racked up a stellar 20 digs. Shilling and Reese Ruffer contributed heavily to the defensive effort as well, adding 12 digs apiece to keep Hicksville’s attack in check.
With the victory, the Lady Bears improve their record to 5-8 on the season. Bryan returns to the court next Monday when they travel to face Defiance.