AUSTIN, Texas – A huge effort by freshman Justice McGowan led McMurry University's volleyball team to an opening-match win at the American Southwest Conference Crossover Tournament, topping East Texas Baptist University, 3-1.  The War Hawks (8-4, 3-1 ASC) won by scores of 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18, played at Concordia University-Texas.
 
The tourney continues on Saturday with matches versus LeTourneau University and UT-Dallas.
 
McGowan tamed the Tigers to the tune of 24 kills in the four sets.  McGowan's kill total is the most by a McMurry player in nearly a decade (Ashley Tibbetts had 26 kills in a match versus Randolph-Macon on October 28, 2006).  McGowan had 38 attack attempts, with two errors, for a .579 attack percentage.
 
Senior teammate Katy Headrick also had a double-figure kill match, with 11, and a .429 attack average. Headrick had a match-high seven blocks and made five digs.  Baylie Barnes chipped in nine kills, as well as serving a pair of aces.
 
The War Hawks setter tandem of Madison Fatheree and Emarie James each had 21 assists. Each also had five digs.
 
Libero Odalis Rodriguez had 15 digs to spearhead the backrow efforts. Rodriguez also served two aces.