HOUSTON, TX - The McMurry War Hawks completed a challenging day of conference action at the SCAC Cross Over Tournament in Houston, earning a split decision by falling to Hendrix College before sweeping the University of Dallas. McMurry's split moves their overall season record to 9-4, and 2-3 in conference play.
Match One: Hendrix College Warriors (L, 0-3)
The War Hawks faced a tough loss in their opening match, falling to the Hendrix College Warriors in three straight sets (19-25, 17-25, 20-25).
The offense struggled to find rhythm against a strong opponent, hitting .035 as a team. The attack was led by setters Alexis Dolton, who contributed 12 assists, and Carli Colbert, who added 10 assists. Colbert also led the team in kills with 4 (hitting .083), just ahead of Shaely Rogers (4 kills, −.143), and Rylie Patterson (3 kills, .385).
From the service line, the War Hawks generated limited pressure, tallying only three total aces, with Rogers, Layleah Williams-Gibson, and Jalie Miller each contributing one. Defensively, the back row was anchored by libero Isabela Dorsey, who collected a team-high 13 digs, supported by Miller and Rogers with eight digs each. At the net, the War Hawks were active, totaling 7.0 blocks. Williams-Gibson led the blocking effort, involved in four block assists, while Patterson, Rogers, and Marcette Williams each had two block assists.
Match Two: University of Dallas Crusaders (W, 3-0)
McMurry rebounded emphatically in the second contest, securing a dominant three-set sweep over the University of Dallas Crusaders with set scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-15. The convincing win improved the War Hawks' conference record to 2−3.
The offense was a powerhouse against the Crusaders, hitting an efficient .231 for the match. Outside hitter Carli Colbert led the aggressive attack with a team-high eight kills, while Madi Polasek contributed a highly efficient eight kills on a stellar .350 hitting percentage. Layleah Williams-Gibson added seven kills (hitting .500), and Rylie Patterson chipped in 5 kills (hitting .364). The offense was paced by Alexis Dolton, who distributed 17 assists, and Colbert, who had 16 assists.
The War Hawks were dominant from the service line, recording seven total aces. Dolton led the charge with three aces, while Colbert and Isabela Dorsey each added 1. Defensively, libero Jalie Miller anchored the defense with a team-high 14 digs, and Dorsey added eight digs. The War Hawks controlled the net, totaling four blocks. Williams-Gibson and Patterson were key defensive presences, each logging two block assists. The team's side-out percentage remained strong throughout, securing the clean sweep.
McMurry returns to the court on Sunday, October 5th, to face Austin College at 2:30 p.m. for their final match in the first SCAC Crossover Tournament of the season.
