ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Volleyball capped a perfect American Southwest Conference Crossover Saturday, defeating both Belhaven Unviversity, 3-1, and East Texas Baptist University, 3-0, in Kimbrell Arena.
The War Hawks make their final trip of the regular season next weekend, visiting Concordia University Texas and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor October 25-26.
McMurry 3, Belhaven 1 (25-16, 25-14, 23-25, 25-11)
McMurry got back to .500 in conference play in its Saturday opener, defeating the Blazers in four sets. Defense was key once again for McMurry, holding Belhaven to a .066 attack percentage. At the net McMurry recorded its fifth most blocks this year with 11.
Freshman middle blocker Alexis Garcia led the charge at the net, recording seven assisted blocks. Both senior outside hitter Jordyn Burnell and senior right side hitter Justice McGowan had four assisted blocks apiece, while junior middle blocker Megan Martinez had three assisted blocks and a solo block.
The War Hawks were in control in all three sets they won, only trailing once in those three sets. Set one included two 5-0 runs, set two had a 7-0 run and set four included a 12-0 run. Burnell and McGowan combined for seven kills during the 12-0 spurt.
Belhaven led for the majority of the third set, and used a 5-0 run to take an 18-11 lead. McM slowly chipped away, eventually tying the set at 23. An McM service error ended a 4-0 War Hawk run, allowing the Blazers to steal the set and avoid the sweep.
Burnell led the offensive attack with 15 kills, and recorded a double-double by recording 11 digs. Martinez added 11 kills on a .400 attack percentage, with McGowan tacking on eight kills.
Freshman libero Adile Leal equaled Burnell's 11 digs.
Junior setter Lauryn Davis recorded 30 assists and eight digs, with junior setter Brynn Warnack chipping in 14 assists.
The War Hawks had a season-high 12 aces, with four coming from Martinez and three from Warnack. Overall, McMurry hit .232.
McMurry 3, East Texas Baptist 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-15)
The War Hawks dominated the Tigers in a three set victory in their final game of the weekend. McMurry allowed just 20 kills and held the Tigers to a .000 attack percentage. McM set the tone in set one by outhitting ETBU, .286 to -.023.
McMurry faced its largest deficit at the start of the second set, falling behind 4-0. But the War Hawks quickly rallied to tie the set at 7-7. Trading points, the War Hawks took the lead for good with a 4-0 run midway through the set and never looked back. McM scored five of the final six points in the set.
The War Hawks got off to a fast start in set one, setting the tone for the match. Leading 5-4, McM broke the set open with a 6-0 run paced by three kills from Burnell. They had two 4-0 runs later in the set, as well.
In set three, the War Hawks started with a 5-1 lead, and built the lead to 10-3 in the early going. A 5-0 run later would give McM its largest lead at 21-9. The run included a pair of kills by McGowan. ETBU made one final push, but the McM lead was too much to overcome.
Both Martinez and Burnell totaled 10 kills, with Martinez hitting .333. McGowan added nine kills while hitting .429. Burnell recorded her second double-double of the day with 14 digs, a team high.
The three others with double-figure digs included Leal, Warnack and senior defensive specialist Jaelyn Green. Leal tallied 11 digs, while both Warnack and Green had 10.
Warnack also recorded a double-double with 15 assists. Junior setter Lauryn Davis dished out 18 helpers, as well.
The War Hawks hit.233 and recorded five total blocks and five aces.
