KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The 2017 volleyball season came to a close for the McMurry University team, splitting its final two matches of pool play at the National Christian College Athletic Association Championships at the Kissimmee Civic Center.  The War Hawks (24-10) finished the campaign by dropping a 3-0 decision to Grace College (Ind.), before capping pool play with a 3-0 win over Bluefield College.
 
The No. 8-seed Grace team defeated McMurry by scores of 25-17, 25-18, 25-23.  McM could muster just a .174 attack average, while the Lancers hit .279 for the match. No War Hawks reached double-digits in kills.
 
Junior Madison Reed topped the effort with seven kills. Teammates Jordyn Burnell, Justice McGowan and Khristyn Howard each knocked down six kills. Jasmine Jones added five kills.
 
Burnell had a team leading 14 digs, with libero Odalis Rodriguez chipping in 11.  Setters Lauryn Davis and Emarie James registered 15 and 13 assists, respectively. 
 
Verlyncia Nelson had three blocks in the loss. 
 
In its season finale, McMurry toppled No. 9-seed Bluefield by scores of 25-16, 25-17, 25-18.  The War Hawks hit a healthy .348 on the attack.
 
Burnell and McGowan each smacked down 11 kills, with Jones' 10 making a trio with double figure kill totals in the win. McGowan hit .450 and Reed had a team-leading .600 attack average (nine kills in 15 attempts, with zero errors).
 
Christian Brown's 17 digs led the back row efforts. Rodriguez dug 16 attack attempts, with Burnell digging 14 of her own.
 
James had 23 assists and Davis 21.
 
The War Hawks closed out another successful season with the school's 10th season with 20 or more victories. McM also had a run of six-consecutive trips to the NCCAA regionals and a four berth in the NCCAA national tournament.