Knights Volleyball Comes Short in Double-Header Opener
 
Summary 
On August 26th, the Spurgeon Knights Women's Volleyball team had their opening games. The Knights first faced Randall University, later followed by Bible Baptist College. Fans from all three schools attended, totaling 135 for the first game and 150 for the second. Yet the Knights' Kingdom—the student section of the bleachers—were unrivaled in their enthusiasm for welcoming their beloved volleyball team into the season. New and returning players alike felt the love from the cheering crowd at both games. The Knights battled fiercely, staying positive and encouraging each other despite the odds stacked against them. Though the games did not fall in their favor, the Knights' teamwork, love for the game, and the support of their fans made both games thrilling for Spurgeon supporters.
 
How it Happened 

• The game with Randall University started with the teams neck to neck, one not inching forward more than a point before the other caught up. It wasn't until the seventh point that Randall took the lead. The Knights kept fighting faithfully but lost the first set.
• In the second set, the Knights were disheartened, and Randall pressed them hard. But through much back and forth, the Knights caught back up at the fourteenth point with a service ace by Janie Wilson. The Spurgeon fans cheered like it was the winning point.
• Unfortunately, Randall pulled ahead and won the second set, though Lizzie Deaton and Hailey Muller delivered two powerful kills for the Knights toward the end.
• Again, the Knights were held back in the third set, but their determination came through, battling for every point. Though they lost the set and the game, the Knights' stats closely matched their opponents, with thirty-two kills, six aces, and many assists. 
• After the game Randall v. Knights, Spurgeon's opponents faced each other—Randall University versus Bible Baptist. Randall University won three to one. 
• The Knights versus Bible Baptist followed a similar pattern to the game with Randall. In the first points of the first set, the teams stayed right on each other's heels. The momentum didn't last, and all three sets ended in Bible Baptists' favor.
• The Knights still put in some powerful shots against their opponents, and their camaraderie with one another was evident through their constant encouragement. The Spurgeon fans also had their back all the way through.

 
Highlights 

• Lizzie Deaton—a junior at Spurgeon College and a member of the volleyball team for two years—made no less than seventeen kills between the two games. She has become known by Spurgeon fans for her powerful hits. 
• Timry Goodman is a new member and the new setter for the volleyball team, though she is a senior. She made thirty-six assists between the two games, with several kills of her own. 
• The team features mostly returning players with three new members. The result is a close-knit group of women who clearly understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. 
• The crowd of Spurgeon supporters—both students and players' families—were absolutely on fire and a joy to host on campus.

 
Up Next
The Knights' Women's Volleyball played a close match against Ozark Christian College on Aug. 29^th. This is followed by a game at Kansas Christian College on Sept. 5^th.