MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Baylor’s Lady Red Raiders weren’t at full strength Friday in the TSSAA Division II-AA volleyball state-championship match. But perhaps in spirit, they were.
The Lady Raiders lost season-long kills leader Gabby Gray to an ankle injury in Thursday’s victory over Harpeth Hall at Blackman High that vaulted them into the final at Middle Tennessee State. They battled with what they had, but Briarcrest Christian proved to be too much and defeated Baylor 3-0. Set scores were 25-18, 25-17, 25-23.
“We’re always going to put up a fight,” Baylor coach Sarah Lail said.
Briarcrest (46-3) never trailed in the first set, although it was tied at 5 and Baylor was within 16-15 before the Saints pulled away. They took control earlier in the second set, stretching a 7-6 lead to 11-6 and maintaining at least a four-point edge the rest of the way.
Baylor (45-4) scored the first five points of the third set and led until Briarcrest caught up at 16. The Saints’ first lead was 21-20. The Lady Raiders’ last lead was 23-22.