ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Harris-Stowe women's volleyball dropped a hard-fought contest against Crowley's Ridge on Thursday evening, losing 3-1 after winning the first set.
 
The Hornets found themselves in a 15-14 hole in the first set but took the lead and found separation on a kill by Ariyonna Johnson, two kills from Keonna Stevens, and a service ace from Mallorie Wooten.
 
Two straight service errors put the serve back in the hands of the home team. Crowley's Ridge made two more attack errors followed by a kill from Ariel Stroud off of an assist from Valorie Walker to put HSSU up 22-16. A few plays later, a service ace from Walker gave the Hornets a first set victory.
 
In the second set, the two teams continued to battle closely through most of the set until the Pioneers earned a 25-17 win with a scoring run to end it. The Hornets held a 23-20 lead in set three, but the visitors once again found a late scoring run, taking the set 25-23.
 
For a third straight set, HSSU found themselves down late in, trailing 23-17 in the fourth. That is until another kill by Johnson sent the team on a scoring run. Queen Patterson recorded a service ace, followed by a visitor attack error, a kill from Johnson, and another kill from Kyanae Toombs off of an assist from A'Nia Ware to put the Hornets in striking distance.
 
Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Pioneers collected the final two points to put the set and the match away at 25-22.
 
HSSU volleyball dropped its record to 3-4 in 2021 and have their first conference contest on Saturday, September 25. They will travel out to Fulton, Missouri, to take on the Owls of William Woods University at 2 p.m.