RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University Volleyball picked up a pair of wins Saturday on the second day of the American Southwest Conference Crossover. The War Hawks defeated Belhaven University 3-1 before topping Louisiana College 3-0.
Next up for the War Hawks is a visit to Schreiner University Tuesday at 6 p.m. The War Hawks swept the Mountaineers earlier in the year.
McMurry 3, Belhaven 1 (25-13, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20)
Senior libero Odalis Rodriguez moved into second place on the all-time digs list in the victory over Belhaven. Rodriguez led the War Hawks with 25 digs. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Jones also had a solid defensive match, collecting 23 digs.
The War Hawks (19-5, 9-4 ASC) used a 12-0 run in the first set to open up a 10-point lead after trailing 4-2. The War Hawks took advantage of eight Blazer errors in the run, including blocking three attacks. It was a block party for the War Hawks, as they racked up a season high 17 blocks. Junior middle blocker Justice McGowan led the War Hawks at the net, collecting 10 assisted blocks.
McGowan also led McMurry on the attack, collecting a team-high eight kills on a .538 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Lauryn Davis had a double-double with 17 assists and 12 digs, while junior setter Emarie James chipped in with 14 assists and eight digs.
McMurry used multiple runs in the second set to take a 2-0 advantage. McMurry looked prime for a sweep, but the Blazers used a 7-0 run to take the third set. The War Hawke then used four runs of 3-0 and a 4-0 run in the fourth set to put the Blazers away.
For the match, McMurry held the Blazers to a .017 attacking percentage while hitting .134. The War Hawks had seven aces to the Blazers' six.
McMurry 3, Louisiana College 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-22)
Five War Hawks recorded six or more kills in the sweep of the Wildcats. McGowan, junior outside hitter Jordyn Burnell, and junior middle blocker each led the War Hawks with seven kills, while junior right side hitter Khristyn Howard and Jones each added six, respectively.
The Wildcats never scored more than two points in a row and the War Hawks used a 5-0 run to take the first set from the Wildcats. After easing through the second set, the War Hawks found themselves in a 5-1 hole in the third set. McMurry would later use a 5-0 run to take a 14-12 lead. However, Louisiana College used a 4-0 run to retake the lead before the War Hawks used 3-0 and 4-0 runs to put the Wildcats away.
McMurry hit .209 for the match while holding the Wildcats to .082. The War Hawks also tallied six aces.
Rodriguez led the War Hawks with 19 digs, while Davis added 11 digs and 13 assists. James dished out 14 assists in the win.