EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears started tournament play on the wrong foot Friday morning as they fell to the Presbyterian College Blue Hose 3-1 at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Sugar Bears (5-6) tried to dig out of an early 2-0 deficit with a set three win, but their comeback fell short as they dropped the fourth set 25-21.
 
Senior Abbie Harry led the Central Arkansas offense with 12 kills while sophomore Madi Bowles and redshirt-junior Amanda Beaton contributed 9 apiece. Junior Bailey Waddington led in the assists department with 21 while junior Emily Doss led the back row with 17 digs.
 
SET 1 – The Blue Hose came out focused and recorded six kills and three straight service aces to grab an early 10-3 lead. The Sugar Bears responded nicely with an 8-2 run sparked by back-to-back Beaton service aces and kills to pull within three, but Presbyterian grabbed the next three points to hold the 15-9 advantage. Central Arkansas pulled within five after a Bowles kill made it 16-11, but the Blue Hose took nine of the next 14 points and won 25-16.
 
SET 2 – Presbyterian jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and stayed in front until Central Arkansas threatened at point 22. Down 12-9, the Sugar Bears got five straight points off back-to-back Bowles kills and held their first lead at 14-12. The Blue Hose gave them little time to enjoy the lead though as they responded with 6-0 run to regain the 19-15 advantage. Central Arkansas took the next three to pull within one at 19-18, but Presbyterian closed the set on a 6-2 run to win 25-20.
 
SET 3 – The Sugar Bears discovered a new sense of energy in the third set as they rode a 7-0 run to lead 13-9 midway through. After both sides shared the next nine points, the Sugar Bears put the Blue Hose away with a 5-0 run that made it 22-14. Presbyterian attempted to stay alive with a mini 3-0 run, but Central Arkansas got a block and Harry kill to win it 25-17.
 
SET 4 – Just like the first two sets, the Blue Hose dominated early and held a 9-2 advantage. The Sugar Bears combatted the early run well with a 9-3 response to pull within one at 12-11. The set continued to be one of runs as Presbyterian immediately took five of the next six points to lead 18-12. The Sugar Bears threatened toward the end after a 3-0 spurt pulled them within three, but the Blue Hose got two kills to solidify the set win at 25-21 and take the match.
 
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The Sugar Bears will conclude Friday play at 6 p.m. with a matchup against host SIUE Cougars.