� Photogallery

The Central Methodist Eagles volleyball squad lost a heartbreaker to the Westminster College Bluejays Wednesday night, 3-2. Despite taking a two games to zero lead and building an eight-point advantage in the third set, the Eagles were unable to hang on, losing three straight sets.

"I don't think we played as a team," said coach Allison Jones-Olson after the match. "And I think Westminster took advantage of what we weren't doing."
CMU junior Jordan

ackson had a monster night, recording 24 kills. Fellow junior Dana Peters had six kills, as did sophomore Julia Webber. Freshman Jenifer Long finished the match with five kills. Freshman Melody Hanson led the Eagles with 26 assists and junior Andrea Lopez racked up 17 digs to lead CMU in that category.

The Eagles won the first set 25-16, then followed that up with a 25-22 victory in the second. The third set started off equally as promising. Long opened the scoring with a service ace and the Eagles turned a 4-0 start into a 15-7 lead and looked set to sweep the match.

It wasn't to be, however. Westminster stormed back to win the set 25-22 and carried that momentum into the fourth set, winning 25-13. The Bluejays began the fifth and deciding set strong as well, jumping out to a 5-1 lead before the Eagles rallied for a final push. That push carried CMU into the lead, but a Westminster timeout with the score 13-12 in favor of the Eagles halted that momentum and allowed the Bluejays to score the set's final three points.

"Communication we're not communicating as a team," said Jones-Olson, emphasizing that a lack of team play was the primary factor in the loss.� "And we need to finish better. We need to finish matches and games too. "

The Eagles, now 15-9 on the year, return to the court Tuesday, Oct. 15 for a home contest against HAAC conference opponent Benedictine. Opening serve in that match is 7 p.m.