Louisville, Ky. - In a battle that came down to the wire, the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Bellarmine Knights. The intense match, played across five sets, saw the Sugar Bears claim crucial points in the final moments to prevail with set scores of 21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-18, and 19-17.  

The Sugar Bears showcased their resilience, bouncing back after dropping the first and third sets. Leading the offensive charge, Gabby Tuiaana delivered an impressive .357 hitting percentage with 12 kills and 4 blocks, while Regan Harp and Lilly Taylor chipped in 10 kills each. Setter Caylan Koons orchestrated the attack with 36 assists, adding 3 service aces and 7 digs to her stat line.  

Defensively, libero Alexis McDaniel anchored the back row with 27 digs, while Harp and Taylor combined for 21 additional pickups. At the net, Allison Holloway contributed with three blocks, further stifling Bellarmine's attack during pivotal moments.  

Bellarmine's Natalie Bland was a force to be reckoned with, amassing a match-high 30 kills on 71 attempts, hitting .225. Despite Bland's heroic performance, the Knights struggled with consistency, committing 36 attack errors. Erika Smith added 10 kills on an efficient .400 hitting percentage, and setter Kylie VanHoy tallied 48 assists.  

The fifth set was the highlight of the evening, featuring seven ties and three lead changes. Central Arkansas held their nerve in the decisive moments, closing out the set 19-17 with clutch kills by Tuiaana and Harp.  

With this victory, the Sugar Bears hope to keep this momentum going into the post season during the ASUN Championship Tournament.