BELTON, Texas – McMurry University Volleyball narrowly missed on taking the first two sets from 24th-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor before falling to the Crusaders 23-25, 25-27, 14-25, Tuesday night in a road American Southwest Conference matchup.
After escaping with the first two sets, the Crusaders (17-1, 11-0 ASC) cruised in the third, hitting .480 while holding the War Hawks (17-4, 7-3 ASC) to just .056.
McMurry battled in the first two sets, jumping out to an 8-2 lead to force a Crusader timeout in the first set. However, the Crusaders battled back to take the 1-0 advantage. In the set, the War Hawks outhit the Crusaders, .286-.220.
The second set was the opposite of the first, as the Cru took the early 11-6 lead. But the War Hawks stormed back, taking a 22-18 advantage. McMurry had set point at 24-21, but UMHB scored four straight for a 25-24 lead, ultimately taking the set.
Junior middle blocker Justice McGowan led the War Hawks with 10 kills while hitting .400. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Jones added nine kills, and junior middle blocker Kianni Mitchell and freshman outside hitter Jessica Lynch each contributed seven. As a team, the War Hawks hit .157 on the evening; the Cru hit .292.
Defensively, senior libero Odalis Rodriguez led the War Hawks with 16 digs. At the net, McGowan and Jones each had three assisted blocks. McGowan also had a solo block.
Junior setter Emarie James passed out 18 assists, with sophomore setter Lauryn Davis adding 15. James also had nine digs.
Next up for the War Hawks is the second ASC Crossover, being held at UT-Dallas. McMurry plays the host Comets at 5 p.m. Friday, before taking on Belhaven University Saturday at noon and Louisiana College Saturday at 4 p.m.
