Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – McMurry University's volleyball team lost a five-set marathon at Concordia University-Texas, falling on the road by scores of 25-23, 24-26, 25-16, 16-25, 15-12. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 8-5 on the season, while the Tornados evened their record at 5-5.
 
McM led 6-3 early in Set No. 1 on an ace by Katy Headrick, but the Tornados battled back. The set was tied at 11-11 when CUTX went on an 8-2 run to lead 19-13. Still down by six at 20-14, the War Hawks climbed to within 22-21, forcing a timeout by Concordia. But the hosts would finish matters to top McM, 25-23.
 
McM scored the first point of set two on defense and then Bethany Holub served up three winners, as the War Hawks jumped ahead, 4-0. The Tornados caught McM at 8-8, before the War Hawks had another mini-run to again lead by four points, 13-9. A CUTX attack error gave McM its largest lead of the set – 19-13 – and forced a timeout by the home team.
 
After the timeout, CUTX scored the next five points to nip at McMurry's heels, 19-18, and eventually knot matters at 21-21. That elicited a timeout from McM head coach Cammie Petree. The Tornados scored three-straight off the stoppage to lead 24-21, but the unfazed War Hawks battled back to make it 24-24. A CUTX timeout could not halt the hot McM team, which polished off CUTX, 26-24, with Odalis Rodriguez serving out the final four points for the Maroon and White.
 
Set No. 3 remained fairly close until CUTX was able to gain some breathing room at 13-9. McM took a timeout down by a 17-13 score, but it failed to stop a 6-0 run by the Tornados that made it 21-13, as McM called its second T.O.  While the War Hawks were able to make a dent in the Concordia lead, it proved too much to overcome as the Tornados closed out the set, 25-16.
 
McMurry led the first half of set four, while not creating separation. CUTX chipped away and tied the set at 12-12 on a War Hawks' blocking error. But a Tornado attack error, followed by six successive winners served by Madison Fatheree helped McM once again extend its lead and go ahead 19-12. The War Hawks would go on to finish off CUTX, 25-16, to force the deciding fifth set.
 
In the 15-point final set, the War Hawks went up 7-3 and the Tornados had to blow their first timeout. CUTX got to within one of McM, 9-8, when Petree called her first timeout to try to stem the Concordia rally.
 
The Tornados were able to tie it at 10-10 and led for the first time in the set at 12-11. McMurry could get no closer and fell in the finale, 15-12.
 
Senior Jessica Cory had a big night on the attack for McM. Cory – who had been the team's libero – booked 18 kills and a healthy .310 attack average. She also led the squad with 25 digs.
 
Teammate Catherine Heath – also a senior – had the team's top attack average at .324, putting down 16 kills in 34 attempts, with just five errors. Holob and Headrick added nine kills apiece.  Headrick served up two of McM's aces and Holub chipped in 10 digs.
 
Morgan Thomas and Fatheree combined for 48 total assists. Thomas tallied 28, while also playing solid defense with 16 digs. Fatheree had 11 digs.
 
Rodriguez – a freshman libero -  had 19 digs for McM.
 
Audrey Sanders had three blocks and Lauren Heathcote two more.  Holub and Headrick had one block each, as well.