LAKEWOOD, Colo. – McMurry University's volleyball team scored a pair of wins – defeating both Grace University and Southwestern Christian University by identical 3-1 scores - to close out pool play at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region Tournament at the Colorado Christian University Event Center.  With the win, the War Hawks (20-12) achieved the ninth 20-win season in the 44-year history of the program.
 
In the day's first game against the Royals, the War Hawks dropped the first set by a 25-22 score.  However, the resilient McM team bounced back to win the next three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-22, 25-22.
 
A trio of McMurry players – Katy Headrick, Jasmine Jones and Justice McGowan – all tallied double-figure kill totals. Headrick led the trio with a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs. She also had two blocks
 
Jones and McGowan had 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Jones also had eight digs, while McGowan had two blocks, as well. 
 
Sophomore libero Odalis Rodriguez had 26 digs and served up three aces.  Christian Brown also had a good day in the back row with 19 digs. Senior setter Madison Fatheree made 14 digs and had a match-leading 27 assists.
 
Fellow setter Emarie James had 15 assists and seven digs.
 
Senior Lauren Heathcote was also a force up front for the War Hawks with nine kills on offense and a team-leading five blocks.  Heathcote hit a creditable .438 on her attacks.
 
The story was much the same for War Hawks in their second match of the day, dropping the first set to Southwestern Christian University, 26-24, and then coming back to win the next three.  McM closed out the Eagles by winning the final three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-11, 25-20.
 
McGowan's 13 kills led the McM attack, along with a .256 attack percentage.  Taylor Sterling also had double-figure kills with 10.  Each also had five digs.
 
Headrick finished with another typically-balanced match, registering nine kills, 12 digs, three aces and four blocks.
 
Heathcote added five kills and a block.  Father had 28 assists and five digs.
 
James had 17 assists. Rodriguez had a team-leading 19 digs and three aces.  Brown had 12 digs, while Jordyn Burnell booked seven kills, three blocks and three aces.
 
As a team, McMurry hit .199 on its attacks, including a healthy .417 in the big set three win.