AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin Baylor volleyball team earned a 3-1 win over Concordia University Texas Friday evening in Austin.  UMHB improved to 23-1 overall and 17-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the Tornados fell to 10-14 overall and 10-8 in league play.
 
UMHB and the Tornados exchanged a pair of 25-18 set-wins to even the match at 1-1. UMHB pulled ahead in the third set with a 5-0 run halfway through, cruising to another 25-18 win from there. The Tornados led the fourth set early but UMHB tied it up at 15-15. The set saw seven more tied scores before UMHB won the final two points to secure the 3-1 win.
 
"Today was a solid gut check for us," Head Coach Mark Pryor said. "Win or lose, we were still the No. 1 seed. We talked about the fact that if someone was keeping score, it's worth going after a win."
 
Hannah Frasca led the Cru with 12 kills followed by Metcalf with six. UMHB hit .176 in the match with 38 total kills. Ella Brunson anchored UMHB's offense, totaling 23 assists.
 
"Ella did a great job tonight in her first start," Pryor said. "She was able to come in and really be offensive and move the ball around."
 
Defensively, Maddie Gillispie led the Cru with 17 digs followed by Brunson with 15 and Frasca with 12. Janikula led UMHB's defensive efforts at the net, totaling five blocks while Metcalf and McKenna Cowsert each added three.
 
UMHB returns to action in the 2021 American Southwest Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament next week in Belton. The Cru earned the No. 1 seed and right to host the tournament. UMHB has a first-round bye and will open tournament play on Friday, November 5^th at 5 p.m.
 
"As of Monday, we are 0-0 and just trying to get a chance to play on Sunday."