CONWAY – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears could not overcome a 2-0 deficit to the Houston Baptist Huskies on Thursday night and eventually fell 3-1 at the Prince Center to kick of Southland Conference play. The Sugar Bears (6-8, 0-1 SLC) showed a glimpse of life after taking set three 25-22, but the Huskies took a hard fought fourth set that sent the Conway faithful home.
 
Senior Abbie Harry led the Sugar Bear offense with 15 kills while sophomores Madi Bowles and Lexi Miller added 14 and 10. Junior Bailey Waddington led in the assists department with 22 while junior Emily Doss led defensively with 15 digs.
 
SET ONE – Central Arkansas quickly got its loud home crowd involved as they jumped out to a quick 6-2 advantage off four Houston Baptist errors. The Huskies recorded the first tie at point 18 after converting a kill to make it 9-all. The Sugar Bears seemed close to pulling away after a 3-0 spurt made it 15-12, but the Huskies hushed the home crowd with a strong 13-4 run to win 25-19.
 
SET TWO – The first 16 points of set two were tightly contested as six ties were recorded. The Huskies created separation after three service aces and a few Sugar Bear errors made it 14-8 and were not contested again until point 30. Down 16-14, Central Arkansas got a kill from Bowles and two Houston Baptist errors that rewarded the Sugar Bears their first set lead at 18-17. The momentum shifted back to the Huskies a few points later as they got a Central Arkansas error and back-to-back kills to lead late 24-21. Harry tried to hold the home team in it after her kill made it 24-22, but a Central Arkansas service error doomed the team in purple and white.
 
SET THREE – The Sugar Bears produced their best offensive performance in the third set as they recorded a match-high 18 kills with a .342 hitting percentage. They jumped out to a fiery 8-1 lead off two Bowles kills and a Miller kill that brought life back to the Prince crowd. Houston Baptist was not fazed by the early deficit and pulled within one after three straight Husky kills made it 16-15. They ended up tying the Sugar Bears 13 points later at 22-all, but Central Arkansas fought off the surge with back-to-back kills from Harry to win 25-22 and force a set four.
 
SET FOUR – The fourth set proved entertaining for the crowd as 11 ties occurred throughout the 48 recorded points. After a Bowles kill made it 18-19 Huskies, Houston Baptist finally got some space from the home team after taking the next two points to hold a 21-18 advantage late. The Sugar Bears quickly responded as another Bowles kill and Houston Baptist ball handling error pulled them within one at 22-21. The Huskies immediately recorded a kill of their own to grab a 23-21 lead and the late separation was enough as they eventually got another kill to take the match at 25-23.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Sugar Bears will look to put tonight's performance behind them on Saturday afternoon as they will welcome the Sam Houston State Bearkats to the Prince Center at 12 p.m.