ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team earned a 3-0 win over Hardin-Simmons University Saturday afternoon in Abilene. The win improved the Cru to 17-0 on the season and 12-0 in American Southwest Conference action while the Cowgirls fell to 6-6 overall and 5-6 in league play.
UMHB trailed halfway through the first set but used a 9-0 run to grab a four-point lead. The Cru held on, finishing the set on a 3-0 run to earn a 25-20 win. UMHB used a 7-0 run early in the second to gain advantage before pulling away with a 7-1 run. UMHB led by as many as 10 in the set, cruising to a 25-16 win. Hardin-Simmons fought back in the third set but UMHB persisted, tying the match at 17. The Cru scored three consecutive points from there and did not allow the Cowgirls back-to-back points, earning a 25-21 win in the third set.
Kayla Janikula and
Hannah Frasca led the Cru with nine kills each while
Kylie Metcalf and
Lauren Williams each added six. UMHB hit 33 kills on 125 attacks, anchored by
Alli Pierce with 29 assists.
"Our defense led us this weekend," Head Coach
Mark Pryor said. "The offense has done a ton for us most of the year, so it was nice to see us really dig in on defense and defend well."
UMHB totaled 69 digs in the match, led by
Maddie Gillispie with 19.
Alli Pierce,
Hannah Frasca and
Alyssa Christiansen all added double-digit dig performances. At the net, Metcalf and Janikula each recorded four blocks while Frasca added three. UMHB limited the Cowgirls to a .059 percentage in the match.
"This weekend was pretty good for us mentally," Pryor added. "I think it was a good check in for where we are this far into the season. It showed us what some of our strengths are and what we can do to improve on some things,"
UMHB returns to action on Wednesday, October 13
th in a 6 p.m. match against Texas Lutheran University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.
"Up next is a very good Texas Lutheran team," Pryor said. "It's our last out-of-conference match for the year and it's important that we are ready for a high-level match."
The Cru is hosting a Pink Out game against the Bulldogs to honor and support the fight against cancer.
