Renfroe Guides Bryan into Record Books: Rawley AAC Player of the week

The Lady Lions opened their 2007 conference competition with a record-breaker.  Behind the play of Junior MB Robin Renfroe, the Lions won 30-21, 30-10, 30-25 in front of a good crowd, setting a new team record for kill percentage in a match.

The Lions tallied a .512 hitting percentage with 49 kills. Renfroe led the way in the front (13 kills, .667 percentage, 1 block) and the back row (21 service points, 9 service aces).   Her service aces were also a personal record.

Outside hitters Gabrielle Claxton (12 kills, .611 hitting) and Alison Young (8 kills, .727 percentage) were on fire in the front as well. The two tallied 20 kills on 29 attempts with only one hitting error.

The Lions maintained control of game 1 behind efficient offensive production, then Renfroe and Young combined for 22 service points in game two, setting the Bulldogs on their heels amidst  a fiery offensive display.  The visiting Bulldogs came back tough and led the third game at 7-2 and 15-11 before the Lions pulled ahead at 18 -17 behind strong Renfroe serves and tough swings from Claxton on the wing.

"This was not as clean a match as we had hoped for after playing such a strong preseason schedule," commented Bryan's coach Leo Sayles.  "Wesleyan's game style pulled us out of our game plan, and it was tough to adjust, resulting in some sloppy play at times.  I was surprised at how well our hitters did considering the poor passing night we had, but I am delighted to take the 'W' and to record a new team record in our books."

Before the match, the Lions honored former Bradley Central  star Kacy Suitor.  Suitor was a high school teammate of Bryan Sophomore Hannah Suits. She played for Tennessee Wesleyan in 2006, but has been unable to play this season as she recovers from heart surgery. The Lions, 1-0 in conference (2-3 overall) host Montreat Friday night, then travel to NAIA #23 Berry College on Saturday for a non-conference match.

Kathryn Rawley, the Lions’ senior libero, was honored as the AAC Libero of the Week for her strong performance over the weekend at the Columbia College Classic in Columbia, MO. Rawley tallied 52 digs in a 5-game loss to Missouri Baptist, and averaged 6 digs per match through the weekend. Her match high broke the team dig record set in 2005, and was one of the top 2 defensive performances in the NAIA last week.