The Bears volleyball team suffered a tough defeat on Tuesday night, losing 3-2 to the Shamrocks in a match that saw them take an early 2-0 lead before falling in five sets. The final scores were 25-18, 26-24, 22-25, 15-25, and 13-15.
The Bears came out strong, dominating the first two sets with a mix of aggressive serving and powerful attacks.
“We were in control early,” said Bears Head Coach Carla Wentworth. “We played our game and everything was clicking, especially in those first two sets.”
In the third set, however, the Shamrocks started to find their rhythm.
Despite leading early in the third set, the Bears were unable to close it out, allowing the Shamrocks to go on a 4-point run to take the set 25-22.
The momentum carried over into the fourth set, where the Shamrocks jumped out to an early lead. The Bears fought hard to keep pace, but unforced errors and a series of missed opportunities allowed the Shamrocks to win 25-15, forcing a fifth and deciding set.
“We just lost our edge,” said Wentworth. “We couldn’t find the same rhythm, and they capitalized.”
In the fifth set, the Shamrocks took control early, racing to an 8-4 lead at the switch. The Bears fought back to close the gap to 12-10, but a service error and two quick points sealed the win for the Shamrocks, who completed the comeback with a 15-10 victory.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Wentworth said. “We had them on the ropes but let it slip away. Credit to the Shamrocks for fighting back, but we need to finish stronger next time.”
The Bears will look to regroup and bounce back in their next match against Clifton Fine on Wednesday night.