KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The McMurry University volleyball team had a tough Day 1 at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national championships, dropping a pair of pool play matches to No. 4-seed Emmanuel College (3-1) and No. 1-seed Biola University. Pool play concludes on Friday, with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the four-team championship bracket on Saturday at the Kissimmee Civic Center.
 
The War Hawks – seeded fifth in the tourney – opened the day with the loss to Emmanuel. EC won the first set, 25-22 and McM taking the second, also by a 25-22 score. But the Saints would win the final two sets, 25-19, 25-16.
 
Jordyn Burnell's 16 kills topped McMurry's team. Burnell also had 18 digs and four blocks. She had an attack average of .262 for the afternoon.
 
Justice McGowan added nine kills, with a .333 attack average.  McGowan had a team-leading five blocks, as well.
 
Khristyn Howard and Madison Reed chipped in eight and seven kills, respectively. Howard had the best attacking game for the War Hawks, hitting .421 in 19 attempts.
 
In the back row, junior libero Odalis Rodriguez had 17 digs and Christian Brown 16. Lauryn Davis had 20 assists, with fellow setter Emarie James registering 18 "helps."
 
The War Hawks struggled to get on track against top-seed Biola (Calif.). The team hit just .084 for the match, while the Eagles had a .304 attack average as a unit.
 
Burnell's nine kills led the way for McMurry. Howard had five kills, while McGowan and Reed each booked four kills.  McM had no blocks in the match, while BU had 10.
 
Davis had 14 assists and Rodriguez 11 digs.