BETHANY, Okla. – Southern Nazarene Volleyball handled business yet again inside the Sawyer Center Saturday afternoon as they snatched their fifth consecutive victory, this time, over Drury University. Last season, the Storm (9-3, 1-0 GAC) handed the Panthers (1-9, 0-0 GLVC) a 3-1 loss in just their second meeting in history. SNU relived the memory from a year ago and picked up another win over Drury, giving the Panthers their ninth loss of the season.
 
 
The Panthers' 1-8 record was not to be fooled as they came into Sawyer looking to end SNU's recent hot streak. Two quick kills and a service ace gave Drury a boost right from opening serve, getting ahead of the Storm 10-7 and forcing SNU to take a timeout. After the break, Drury kept the distance with attacking errors made by the Storm, but back-to-back kills from Whitney Bowie and a Drury slip allowed SNU within one point. The teams challenged one another for the lead, but a powerful 6-0 scoring run from the Panthers stunned the Storm as they stole the first set 25-19.
 
 
SNU flipped a switch and broke out to a 5-0 run to start the second set. Their hot start kept them far away from the Panthers for the majority of the match, and a string of good possessions allowed SNU to soar to 23-13 lead. Drury tried to battle back late, but two more kills from Bowie sealed the deal and pushed the game to 1-1 after SNU took set 2, 25-16.
 
 
 
The two teams each applied pressure in set 3, but Drury's aggression set the Storm back midway through the set. The Panthers capitalized off of their offense and a few Storm errors to build a 17-10 lead, but SNU clawed their way back to a two-point game. With Drury at set point, the Panthers took a timeout to organize their defensive strategy, and it ended up working in their favor. The Storm were able to sneak in a point to make it a one-point game, but a kill by Drury sealed SNU's fate and the Panthers snatched set 3, 25-23.
 
 
With Drury up 2-1 in the match, SNU was in search of a comeback. The Storm stayed within just a few points of the Panthers, but a 4-0 run by Drury stretched the Panthers lead to 16-11. SNU pulled it together and fought to tie the game at 20 all. The Strom would eventually take back the lead, but the Panthers went on to tie it once more at 23-23. Rayanna Mauldin elevated up and delivered a powerful kill to put SNU at set point and Sunny Batschelett excited Sawyer with a monstrous block, giving SNU the 25-23 victory and a chance at a match win with a forced set 5.
 
SNU had their eye on the prize in set 5 after breaking open a 5-0 run. SNU kept that lead up until Drury battled back within three at 12-9. SNU denied the chance of Panther comeback after kills from Bowie and Batschelett earned the Storm the final set win, 15-10.
 
 
 
Batschelett was on fire for SNU, recording 19 kills and three total blocks. Mauldin was behind her with 14 and Bowie with 13. Bowie led SNU in blocks with five.
 
Madeline Lynch grabbed 32 digs and Kaley Brubaker led with 34 assists.
 
 
Up Next
 
SNU will be back in action Tuesday, September 19^th in Durant as they continue GAC play against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Opening serve is set for 7:00 p.m.