By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE – The Briarwood Lady Lions volleyball team traveled north to Pleasant Valley High School to take part in the Sandy Hunter Invitational on Sept. 11-12. Briarwood finished 2-3 in the tournament, good enough for sixth place out of the 10-team field to move its overall record on the year to 7-7.

The Lady Lions started off on a good foot, knocking off Sandy Rock in two sets 25-17, 25-23. In the first match, Sophie Muir-Taylor had five kills and one block, while Monique Burton had three kills and one block. Then Briarwood ran into Saks, which ended up winning the tournament, and lost in straight sets 25-8, 25-13. Anna Donohue had six assists against the Lady Wildcats while Muir-Taylor had three kills, one ace and one block as well.

In its third match of the tournament, Briarwood got its second and last win against Faith Christian School in a three-set, come from behind match, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11. Alex O’Brien had 12 assists and two digs in the match to lead the way for Briarwood while Burton had six kills and seven blocks and Muir-Taylor had four kills, three aces, two digs and a block as well.

Briarwood then dropped its final two matches against Jacksonville (25-13, 25-23) and Donoho (25-12, 25-20) to knock the Lady Lions out of contention for a shot at the championship.

Briarwood returns to the Hardwood this afternoon with a match against Clay-Chalkville on the road.