Box Score Box Score
Richardson, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team had chances to put McMurry University away, but the Cru could not hold off the War Hawks fourth and fifth set rallies in a 3-2 loss in the second round of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament. UMHB falls to 21-10 on the season with the 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 17-15 loss. McMurry improves to 27-3 on the year with the victory.
The Cru stormed out to an early lead in the opening set, building a 15-10 lead because McMurry battled back to tie the set at 18. The Cru won the next four points to take control of the set and held on for a 25-21 win. The second set was tied 19-19 before McMurry won four consecutive points to take control and even the match. UMHB built a 14-7 lead in the third set and then held off a War Hawk rally to take a 2-1 lead. The Cru never led in the fourth set before McMurry tied the match at 2-2. UMHB dominated the early going in set five and led 11-6 before McMurry reeled off a 6-1 run to tie it at 12. The Cru held off a pair of match points to tie the set at 15 before a service error and Bailey Marcum kill clinched the win for the War Hawks.
Tina Miller topped UMHB with 24 kills,
Kimberly Smidovec added 14,
Sophia Alexiou chipped in 13 kills and
Morgan Baker and
Kaydie Cochran had 11 kills apiece.
Anissa Garcia had 66 assists and 13 digs.
Elise Butler posted a team-best 19 digs and
Jasmine Austin (14), Baker (14) and Cochran (12) also reached double figures in digs for the Cru. UMHB hit .224 as a team, but committed 29 attack errors in the match.
Marcum led four War Hawks in double figures with 16 kills. Demi Holladay had 28 assists while Jasmine Qualls chipped in 27. Bailey Wilson led the team with 21 digs and Marcum added 18. The War Hawks hit .253 as a team and recorded 11.0 team blocks.
The Cru will now face U.T.-Tyler in an elimination game tomorrow at noon. The winner of that game will advance to another elimination game at 7:30 on Friday. McMurry advances to the semifinals to face either Hardin-Simmons or U.T.-Dallas at 5:00 PM tomorrow.
