BROWNWOOD, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team grabbed control of the match early and never looked back in a 3-0 victory over Howard Payne Tuesday night in Brownwood. The Cru improves to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the win. The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the ASC on the season.
 
UMHB opened the first set with a 12-3 run and led by at least eight points the rest of the way in a 25-8 opening set victory. The second set was almost a carbon copy of the first with the Cru again erupting for a 12-3 start and cruising to a 25-8 win. Howard Payne won the first two points of the third set and were within 6-5 before UMHB stretched it out with a 7-0 run and the Cru closed it out with a 25-14 third set win.
 
The Cru hit .363 as a team and got six kills from Miranda Klein and Jenna Gillean. Ten different players recorded kills in a balanced attack for UMHB. Cory Jo Martin had 14 assists and a team-high nine digs on the evening. The Cru added 14 service aces and five total team blocks in a dominating performance as UMHB held Howard Payne to a hitting percentage of .013 on the night.
 
UMHB will now return home for its 2019 home opener this weekend. The Cru will take on Sul Ross State on Saturday at 2 pm at the Mayborn Campus Center.