BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – The McMurry University volleyball team opened its fourth-consecutive appearance in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region Tournament appearance with a 3-0 sweep over Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The War Hawks (18-9) won over the Lions (17-15) by set scores of 26-16, 25-18, 25-19, in the event hosted by Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
 
McMurry was in complete control of the match in all three sets, never trailing by more than three points the entire contest. In the first two sets, the War Hawks took control of the sets early and didn't trail. In the third set, there were 12 ties and lead changes before McM went ahead for good at 15-14.
 
 Senior transfer Bethany Holub – in her first post-season with McMurry – had a match-high 12 kills, hitting .476 for the contest. Holub also had 12 digs on the defensive side.
 
Fellow senior Jessica Cory had 10 kills and a .273 attack average, along with 11 digs. Jasmine Jones had an outstanding hitting match, as well, going .429 with nine kills, while also registering two assisted blocks.
 
Setters Jessica Tennis and Morgan Thomas combined for 37 of the team's 40 assists. Tennis had 19 assists and Thomas 18.
 
Katy Headrick led the War Hawks with four blocks. Seniors Catherine Heath and Audrey Sanders also had two blocks. Heath knocked down six kills, as well.
 
Freshman libero Odalis Rodriguez had 16 digs to lead either team. Rodriguez and Thomas each had a service ace, as well.
 
McMurry will continue pool play on Friday, with a 9 a.m. match versus Southwestern Christian University and a 1 p.m. bout versus top-seeded Oklahoma Baptist University. The top two teams from each of the two pools advance to the single-elimination bracket round beginning Friday evening, with the championship game on Saturday.