ABILENE, TEXAS - Loud fans and long, high-flying volleys made for the ultimate crosstown showdown on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in Kimbrell Arena. 

The score was tied 13 times, and the lead changed hands five times during McMurry's 20-25, 16-25, 23-25 duel with Hardin-Simmons University in American Southwest Conference play. 

The battle royal started in the first set with the visitors having a 3-0 run countered by McMurry's 3-0 run. The sequence repeated, but the visitors later had a 4-0 run to create a cushion on the scoreboard. The second stanza was unlike the first, as the visitors jumped out to a 6-1 lead. McMurry clawed back with three 3-0 runs and threw punches like a heavyweight prizefighter to keep the score competitive. McMurry showed it wouldn't go away quickly in the last set by sprinting ahead 4-1 at the start. The score then became a back-and-forth affair. Visiting fans started chanting as they sensed victory, and the home fans responded, motivating McMurry to make a charge at the end. 

Freshman middle/right side hitter Rylie Patterson (Amarillo, Texas) led McMurry with eight of the team's 28 kills. Freshman outside hitter Zoe Aldrich (Fredericksburg, Texas) contributed six kills. In contrast, senior middle/right side hitter Addyson Tiffin (Bushland, Texas) and junior outside hitter Jacee Dinkins (Azle, Texas) tallied five kills each. The team had 26 assists, highlighted by 13 from junior setter Ashlyn Quillan (Van Alstyne, Texas) and eight from freshman setter Allison Montoya (Fort Worth, Texas). Senior defensive specialist/libero Addie Leal (Clute, Texas) had 14 of McMurry's 46 digs. Dinkins and junior defensive specialist/libero Hannah Page (Lubbock, Texas) pitched in eight apiece. 

McMurry (1-13, 0-3 ASC) hits the road for games at LeTourneau University on Friday, Sept. 29, and Schreiner University on Oct. 3. Head coach Cammie Petree's squad will be back home on Oct. 6 to face East Texas Baptist University. First serve is at 2 p.m.