MOUNT BERRY, Georgia – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team took on two more potent opponents and went 1-1 on the final day of the Berry National Invitational Saturday in Mount Berry, Georgia. The 20^th-ranked Cru is now 4-4 on the season with all four losses coming against opponents ranked in or receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll.
 
UMHB opened the day with a 3-0 loss to Transylvania University, falling 25-17, 25-23, 26-24. The first set was close until Transy broke it open midway through with a 9-2 run. Neither team led by more than three points in a balanced second set. The Cru opened the third set with a 7-3 run and led 14-9 before Transy stormed back to tie it up at 18. UMHB was serving set point, but could not close it out as Transylvania came up with three consecutive kills to win the match. Jenna Gillean had ten kills for the Cru and Sarah Paolini added nine as UMHB hit .207 as a team. Adrien Valdez had a team-high 16 digs and Cory Jo Martin recorded 31 assists. The Cru had seven service aces and five total team blocks. Transylvania was receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
UMHB bounced back with a 3-1 win over 14^th-ranked Christopher Newport to close out the tournament. The Cru trailed early in the opening set, but scored the final three points to post a 25-19 victory. UMHB closed the second set with a 4-2 run to take a 25-20 decision, before the Captains won the third set 25-16. The Cru broke open a 9-9 set with eight consecutive points to take control of the deciding set and won 25-18 to close it out. Miranda Klein led four players in doubles figures with 14 kills and she added 11 digs and four block assists. Jenna Gillean had 12 kills and a team-high 18 digs, and Corinne Novak and Paolini chipped in 11 kills apiece. Martin served up 42 assists and five players were in double figures in digs. UMHB out hit CNU .277 to .171 in the match.
 
The Cru returns to action with the start of American Southwest Conference play next week. UMHB will play a 6 pm match at Howard Payne Tuesday in Brownwood before returning home to host Sul Ross State for a 2 pm start on Saturday in the 2019 home opener.