Billingsley on Tuesday night couldn’t shake off the rust of a nearly two-week layoff as the Bears lost to Akron, 25-14, 15-25, 24-26, 13-25.

The loss bring Billingsley’s record to 4-4. Tuesday’s match was Billingsley’s first since a win over Thorsby on Sept. 11.

The Bears won the first game easily, but coach Arleshia Lane-Turner said her team underestimated the Rams (8-0).

“They’re a very good team,” she said.

Class 1A, Area 4 foe Akron answered by winning the second game, and the third was neck-and-neck until Raven Fields’ ace ended the game.

Billingsley fought back from an early deficit to get within one point at 13-12 on a run that included two Rachel Willis aces and a Lucretia Love kill.

But Fields served for nine consecutive points to put the match away.

Billingsley hosts St. Jude beginning at 5 p.m. on Sept. 30.