THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.   – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team split the opening day at the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational, beating Clarkson University 3-1 before falling to Whittier 3-2.  
 
UMHB opened the day with a 3-1 win over Clarkson University. UMHB took the first set 25-14 before falling 21-25 in the second. The Cru rallied with 25-14, 25-21 third and fourth set victories to secure the win.  Miranda Klein led the Cru with 17 kills while Corinne Novak and Jenna Gillean added 10 each. UMHB hit .206 in the match, slamming 58 kills on 160 attacks. Cory Jo Martin anchored the offense with 36 assists while Klein added 13. Defensively, Haleigh Evans led the Cru with 22 digs while Gillean added 20 and Klein had 17. Kayla Janikula was the defensive leader at the net, recording nine kills in the contest.
 
The Cru took the first two sets of Whittier 25-20, 25-15 before falling 24-26 in the third. Whittier took the fourth and fifth sets with scores of 25-18, 15-10 to secure the 3-2 victory over UMHB. Miranda Klein led the Cru with 21 kills, followed by Gillean with 14 and Novak with 12. Martin recorded a team-high 46 assists as UMHB hit .221 in the match. Evans was the defensive leader, recording 29 digs while Gillean added 23 and Novak had 22. UMHB also recorded 13 team blocks in the contest.
 
The Cru returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 8^th in a 10:30 a.m. (PT) contest against Pomona-Pitzer and a 1 p.m. (PT) contest against tournament-host California Lutheran.