Box Score
Photo Gallery

McMurry rallied after Hardin-Simmons put the first two games away early, but it wasn't enough as the Cowgirls ended McMurry's perfect start to the season with a 30-24, 30-22, 22-30, 30-28 victory Wednesday night at Hardin-Simmons' Mabee Complex. McMurry pulled out the third game and just missed forcing a deciding fifth game and snapped its seven-game win streak on the year.

The loss moves McMurry to 2-1 in the American Southwest Conference West Division while HSU improved to 3-0 on the year and 6-4 overall. Kaela Parnell, Cambra Hughes and Amanda Mace all recorded double-digits in the kills category for the Cowgirls. Parnell led with 15, Hughes had 11 and Mace posted 10 in the winning effort.

Neither team had an impressive hitting percentage as HSU barely edged McMurry in the category with a .133 hitting percentage to McM's .115. Danielle Kelton led McMurry in the losing effort with 12 kills and Terah Brown added nine along with five blocks.

Both teams blocked well as a whole with McMurry knocking down 11.5 blocks for the game and Hardin-Simmons had 10. Amanda Curry had 45 assists to lead the Cowgirls' setting attack while Shannon Higgins had 32 for McMurry.

Kelton was also effective on the defensive end for McMurry with 22 digs while Sarah Anding led the team with 23. Five HSU players recorded double digits in the digs category with Megan Lawrence leading with 21.

The four-game match took one hour and 50 minutes and was played in front of 700 fans. McMurry's student body made up most of the crowd and out-numbered the HSU fans.

However, it was the Cowgirls' quick start that propelled the team to victory and McMurry will head into the weekend with its first blemish on the season record.

McMurry will take on two more ASC West Division opponents this weekend taking on Texas Lutheran (3-0 in ASC West) Friday at 7 p.m. and Schreiner Saturday at 3:30 p.m.