ABILENE, Texas – For the second time this season, the McMurry University volleyball team was able to knock off Howard Payne University, this time winning on its home floor, 3-1. The War Hawks (15-8, 8-5 ASC) took the American Southwest Conference bout from the Yellow Jackets (8-13, 5-8 ASC) by set scores of 25-16, 25-21, 12-25, 26-24.
McM also topped HPU, 3-2, in Brownwood back on September 27.
The War Hawks controlled matters well in the first set. Set two proved a little tighter, with McMurry creating the separation it needed at the very end of the set. The War Hawks out-hit HPU .242 to .000 in the first and .407 to .079 in the second.
In the third set, the Yellow Jackets finally got off the deck, jumping out to a 13-4 advantage at one point before cruising to the win. It was HPU's best attacking set, hitting .269, while McMurry a minus-.059 ledger to show for its third set attacks.
Neither team could shake the other in the fourth set. McM held a two-point lead when the Yellow Jackets called a timeout, eventually tying things up at 19-19. The teams traded points until the War Hawks were finally able to seal the victory, 26-24.
Senior
Katy Headrick and
Justice McGowan led a balanced McMurry attack with eight kills, each. Headrick also had half of her team's service aces, with three, and made seven digs. She also has three blocks.
McGowan had four assisted blocks, as well.
Jasmine Jones and
Baylie Barnes each made seven kills, with Barnes also chipping in six digs.
Madison Reed gave head coach
Cammie Petree's squad six kills and two blocks.
Maddison Fatheree and
Emarie James combined for 37 assists at the setter position. Fatheree gave off 25 of the helps and made nine digs, while James had five digs.
Sophomore libero
Odalis Rodriguez had a team-leading 23 digs to anchor McM's back row. Newcomer
Christian Brown booked 14 digs.
Jordyn Burnell helped out McM's front line with three blocks.
The War Hawks will host their annual Senior Day on Saturday at 12 p.m., welcoming Sul Ross State University.
