BROWNWOOD, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team beat Howard Payne University 3-1 Saturday afternoon in Brownwood. The win improved UMHB to 13-5 on the season and 7-2 in American Southwest Conference action while the Yellow Jackets fell to 6-9 overall and 3-4 in league play.
 
UMHB took a statement first-set win over the Yellow Jackets 25-13 before Howard Payne responded with a 25-21 second-set win. With the match tied at one set each, UMHB took a convincing 25-11 third-set win then fought a close one in the fourth set, winning that 25-21 for the 3-1 match victory.
 
Miranda Klein led the Cru with 12 kills followed by Maddie Frerich and Abby Voskuil with 11 each. Natasha Evans totaled 32 assists as UMHB hit .500 in the match. Sarah Paolini served a team-high two aces followed by three other players with one. Natasha Evans led the Cru with 18 digs followed by Haleigh Evans with 13 and Abby Voskuil with 12. At the net, Paolini recorded a team-high five blocks followed by Frerich with four. UMHB totaled 47 kills on 142 total attacks while Howard Payne had 35 kills on 141 total attacks for a .021 hitting percentage.
 
UMHB will return to action Tuesday, October 11^th in a 6 p.m. match against West Division rival Hardin-Simmons University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.