BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team opened the 2022 season with a pair of wins over Howard Payne University and Schreiner University. The Cru opened the season at 2-0 with a 1-0 American Southwest Conference record.
 
UMHB opened the day with a three-set sweep over Howard Payne University. The Cru dominated the first set of action, cruising to a 25-6 win over the Yellow Jackets. Howard Payne kept it closer in the second but UMHB sealed the season-opening win with 25-14, 25-17 wins for the sweep. Kaylie Vasil and Sam Sommerfeld led the Cru with nine kills each while Katie Warden added six. Sydney Bowen led the Cru with 23 assists as UMHB hit .298 in the match. Defensively, UMHB totaled 61 digs, limiting the Yellow Jackets to a -.018 percentage. Maddie Gillispie led the Cru with 16 digs followed by Gracie Nichols with 11. The Cru also dominated at the net, led by Dravyn Hurd with four blocks.
 
The Cru opened the second match with a pair of 25-20, 25-19 set wins over Schreiner University. UMHB led early in the third but the Mountaineers fought back, taking a four-point lead late in the set and holding on for a 25-22 win. UMHB led early in the set but the Mountaineers chipped away at the lead, tying the set at 10-10. The set saw seven more tied scores before the Cru took a 19-17 lead late. UMHB scored two more points before Katie Warden and Jenci Seahorn teamed up for two kills each to close the set with a 25-19 win. Kaylie Vasil led the Cru with 19 kills, followed by Katie Warden and Jenci Seahorn with nine each. UMHB hit .206 in the contest with 52 total kills. Ella Brunson led UMHB with 44 assists. Defensively, the Cru totaled 105 digs led by Maddie Gillispie with 34. Four other Crusaders recorded double-digit digs, including Kaylie Vasil who had a double-double with 13 digs.
 
The Cru continues play tomorrow in a 6 p.m. match against Centenary College. The match will be played at Mayborn Campus Center with free admission.