Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – Senior libero Sarah Anding became McMurry's all-time digs leader Thursday night and helped her team defeat Howard Payne in three sets at Kimbrell Arena in American Southwest Conference West Division action. McMurry defeated the Yellow Jackets 25-18, 25-14, 26-24.

Anding, needed just four digs to become the school's all-time digs queen, but tallied 19 for good measure to lead a defensive effort for McMurry that held Howard Payne to a -.018 hitting percentage.

Danielle Bolin, who played four seasons from 2000-2003, was the previous record holder with 1,847 before Anding's total reached 1,864 through Thursday night's match.

15th-year head coach Cammie Petree has coached both players and said the two were very similar players.

“I'm so excited for Sarah. She works so hard and always works hard to come into the season in shape and ready to play and it shows on the court,” said Petree. ”[Danielle and Sarah] are both awesome, they both keep the ball off the floor; it's been such a blessing to coach both of them.”

Anding told a reporter after the game that staying injury free for four years was helpful, but she said she was very excited.

“I was super excited. I didn't know exactly how many I needed coming in, but I knew I was close,” Anding said.

With the win, McMurry moved half a game in front of Texas Lutheran for second place in the ASC West with a 7-3 league record. M.J. Vickers and Bailey Marcum had seven kills apiece and Bennie Smith added five.

"We were a little to slow to begin with, and our intensity wasn't as good as it could have been, but we got the win, we're in second place, and that's all that matters," said Anding.

In the loss, HPU's Hannah Hicks, Sarah Bishop and Carlee Ammons had six kills apiece. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 7-10 overall and 3-7 in league play.

McMurry takes eight days off before heading to Round Rock for two more matches at the second ASC Crossover Tournament; the team will enter with a 10-7 overall record.