CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match to Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, but all four sets were insanely close, with two of the four going beyond 25 points.
 
The Sugar Bears (1-3) relied on a balanced offense, with six players logging five or more kills against the Lady Lions, led by Greyson Button's nine. Caylan Koons had 20 assists, while Sophie Skinner added 14.
 
The lead in the first set never grew larger than three, as both sides went point for point. The Sugar Bears were up two points when the Lady Lions rattled off a 5-0 run, but Central Arkansas answered with a 3-0 run to retie the game. Both sides continued to match point for point, kill for kill, before four of the last six points of the frame gave the first set to Southeastern Louisiana.
 
The second set was mostly the same, with both sides unable to really grab a hold of the set, trading point for point. Neither side put together more than a three-point run, but both teams battled as the set continued. Tied at 22, Central Arkansas was able to get to set point, but a rally from the visitors stretched the set, and the Lady Lions snagged the second set.
 
Backs against the wall, the Sugar Bears came out hot in the third set, jumping out 12-7 in the early stages of the set. Central Arkansas maintained a five-point lead through 19 points, but Southeastern Louisiana wasn't done, storming back with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one. Up 23-22, the Sugar Bears used a service error and a Samantha Cousins kill to take the third set.
 
As the fourth set progressed, it continued to be just like the first three; plenty of back and forth with limited runs by each side. Southeastern used a 6-1 run to inch the lead to four late in the set, but the Sugar Bears answered with a 4-0 run to tie it at 24-24. Unfortunately, the Lady Lions responded with back-to-back points to claim the match.
 
Central Arkansas has one more match this weekend, facing Boston College tomorrow at 4 p.m.