McMurry vs. Whitworth Box |
McMurry vs. Trinity Box
SAN ANTONIO – After dropping a match in three sets to Whitworth University, McMurry University gave No. 12 Trinity all it could handle, but fell short in a five-set defeat Friday afternoon at Trinity's Sam's Gym. Whitworth took McMurry 25-19, 25-18, 26-24 and Trinity outlasted its visitors 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-9 in day one of the Trinity University River City Classic.
Bennie Smith combined for 23 kills in the two matches for McMurry in the losing effort. The sophomore from Sweetwater pounded out13 kills in the first match loss to Whitworth and chipped in 10 against the nationally-ranked Tigers.
Bailey Marcum had six kills against Whitworth and led the team with 13 against Trinity.
McMurry hit .300 in the first set against Trinity to take game one 25-23 and edged the Tigers again in game two despite hitting .118. However, the Tigers countered by hitting .273 in the final three sets while holding McMurry to a .102 mark.
The Tigers' Madison McMahon tallied 17 kills, Sara Roberson had 14 and Maddy Hazelwood had 13. McMahon also led Trinity with 24 digs.
Sarah Anding led McMurry with 25 digs in the losing effort while Marcum and Smith each recorded double-doubles with 13 and 17 digs respectively.
Jasmine Qualls quarterbacked McMurry's .152 match hitting percentage with 48 assists and added four kills and 10 digs to help her cause.
Whitworth, from Spokane, Wash., put McMurry on the ropes early and never looked back. McMurry fell in the first set 25-19, then 25-18 in set No. 2 before rallying short in the 26-24 loss in set three. Whitworth's Kaimi Rocha led a balanced offensive attack with 11 kills and the team hit .269.
Smith hit .242 to accompany her 13 kills and was the only McMurry player in double figures in that category for the first match of the season.
M.J. Vickers added nine on a .292 hitting percentage. Marcum led with 11 digs and Qualls' 23 assists paced a .147 hitting effort.
McMurry will look to rebound Saturday against UMass-Boston at 3:30 p.m. to close the tournament. UMass-Boston defeated Hardin-Simmons Friday in five sets.
