ALPINE, Texas – McMurry Univeristy Volleyball's win streak has hit a baker's dozen following a five-set win over East Texas Baptist University and a four-set victory over LeTourneau University Friday at the American Southwest Conference Crossover.
McMurry wraps up the weekend at noon tomorrow against 23rd-ranked UT-Tyler.
McMurry 3, East Texas Baptist 2 (13-25, 25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12)
The War Hawks rallied after dropping the first set to take a 2-1 lead, before finally defeating the Tigers in five sets.
ETBU took a 2-0 lead in the fifth set, before the War Hawks scored four of the next five points. Then, with the set tied 5-5, the War Hawks scored four straight to take a 9-5 lead and eventually led 14-9. The Tigers made one last rally, scoring three straight before the War Hawks shut the door for the victory.
Set one saw the War Hawks with a 7-6 lead, but the Tigers took over from there to grab a 20-9 lead, and taking the set, 25-13.
It looked like ETBU would take the second set after jumping out to a quick 4-0 advantage, but the War Hawks were resilient, taking their first lead at 18-17. Tied again at 21, the War Hawks took the lead on a kill by junior right side hitter Jordyn Burnell followed by three consecutive attack errors on the Tigers to even the match.
The War Hawks and Tigers then traded sets three and four to set up the decisive fifth set. In that fifth set, the War Hawks hit .353 while holding the Tigers to .080.
Junior middle blocker Justice McGowan led the offensive attack, racking up 14 kills on a .545 attack percentage. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Jones chipped in 11 kills.
McMurry had balance on defense, as four War Hawks had double digit kills, led by senior libero Odalis Rodriguez's 23. Burnell and junior defensive specialist Jaelyn Green each had 13 digs, respectively. Sophomore setter Lauryn Davis had a dozen digs while recording a double-double adding 18 assists.
Junior setter Emarie James finished with 31 assists and seven digs.
McMurry 3, LeTourneau 1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23)
The War Hawks defeated the Yellowjackets for the second time this season to cap their first day at the ASC Crossover. It was another battle for the War Hawks, as they had to stave off a hungry LeTourneau team after splitting the first two sets.
In the fourth set, the War Hawks built up a 21-10 lead. But the Yellowjackets scored eight in a row and 13 of 15 to even the score at 23. But the McMurry frontline had other plans, finishing off the Yellowjackets on a McGowan and Jones block and a kill by freshman middle blocker Elicia Jackson.
The War Hawks dominated the first set en route to a 25-13 win, scoring the last eight points of the set after leading 17-13. The War Hawks hit .464 compared to -.086 for the Yellowjackets.
Both James and Davis had double-doubles, as James had 26 assists and 12 digs while Davis accumulated 19 digs and 15 assists.
Other leaders for the War Hawks include Jones with 12 kills, Rodriguez with 26 digs and Green with 14 digs. Burnell narrowly missed a double-double, recording nine kills and nine digs.
