DALLAS, Texas – McMurry University Volleyball bounced back from back-to-back losses by winning its final game of the weekend, 3-0 over Alfred University Saturday afternoon at the University of Dallas tournament. Earlier in the day, the War Hawks were defeated in five sets by Millsaps College.
The War Hawks return home for three games next week, beginning with Dallas Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Millsaps 3, McMurry 2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-27, 25-22, 18-20)
Four of the five sets were decided by the minimum two points, but the War Hawks (8-2) came up just short against the Majors (7-4).
A back-and-forth first set, the War Hawks scored the final four points to take the 1-0 advantage. The second set featured more of the same, although with the roles reversed, as Millsaps took the final four points to even the match at a set apiece.
The teams traded 4-0 runs multiple times in the third set, before McMurry had set point leading 24-22. However, the Majors scored the next three points before McM evened it at 25, but Millsaps closed out the set with a pair of kills.
Trailing halfway through the fourth set, the War Hawks used a 5-0 run to take back the lead. Millsaps would even it up once again, but a pair of kills by junior right side hitter Khristyn Howard helped Mcm claim the set.
McMurry led by three many times in the first half of the decisive set, and had four set point opportunities. But two attack errors and an ace by the Majors allowed them to score the final three points to steal the match.
Senior outside hitter Jordyn Burnell posted a double-double of 17 kills and 23 digs, but was held to just a .109 attacking percentage. Also recording double-digit kills were Howard and senior right side hitter Justice McGowan with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Three players tallied eight kills.
Junior setter Lauryn Davis also recorded a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs. Junior setter Brynn Warnack tallied 23 assists and seven digs.
Defensively, senior libero Jaelyn Green led four War Hawks with double figure digs with 26. Freshman defensive specialist Adile Leal totaled 11 digs. At the net, McM totaled eight blocks, led by five assisted blocks and one solo by McGowan.
McMurry 3, Alfred 0 (25-14, 26-24, 25-20)
The War Hawks responded from back-to-back losses with a sweep of the Saxons to get back on track.
McMurry came out of the gates strong, hitting .346 in the first set as it cruised to an 11-point win. The War Hawks scored 11 of the first 13 points in the set, and led by as many as 12 at 20-8.
Set two was tighter, as the Saxons (4-9) pushed the War Hawks all the way to the end of the set. Alfred led throughout the majority of the set, and led 21-14 late. The War Hawks battled back to tie the set at 23 behind four kills from sophomore outside hitter Jessica Lynch. Lynch had seven kills in the War Hawks' final eight points and led the War Hawks with 15 on the match.
McMurry was in control for the third set, scoring the first three points and never looked back to claim the sweep.
Lynch hit .387 for the match and added eight digs and an ace. Both senior outside hitter Jada Cortez and Howard each finished with seven kills, respectively.
Davis led the War Hawks with 13 digs, and also led in assists with 27. Green finished with a dozen digs while sophomore setter Myranda Salcedo dished out a dozen helpers. Salcedo collected three of McM's seven aces.
