BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team earned two sweeps over Concordia-Moorhead College and Simpson College Friday night in Belton to open the 2023 season.
UMHB opened the season with a sweep over Concordia-Moorhead College. The Cru opened the first set with a two-point lead before the Cobbers quickly evened it. UMHB again jumped ahead by two before CC went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-4 lead. UMHB responded with a six-point run to take an 11-7 lead over CC. UMHB held the high ground through the set, earning a 25-17 win in the opening 2023 action. The second set played evenly before UMHB went on a 13-1 run to take a 16-7 lead. UMHB led by as many as 11 in the set, cruising to a 25-15 win. UMHB sealed the match with a 25-18 win in the third, scoring six unanswered points to close in on the 25-18 victory.
Hannah Frasca led the Cru with 11 kills in the match, followed by Katie Warden with eight. UMHB totaled 42 kills on 110 total attacks for a .273 average. Kendall Harrington and Ella Brunson combined for 33 assists while Harrington led the Cru with three aces. Defensively, Frasca led with 10 digs followed by Alyssa Christiansen with nine. UMHB added one solo block with 10 assists blocks, limiting the Cobbers to 29 kills in the contest.
Simpson College jumped to a 3-1 lead in the first set of game two. The set saw three tied scores before the Cru went on an 8-2 run to lead by seven. The Storm tried to fight back, going point for point, but UMHB held on taking the set 25-18. The Cru had an explosive start to the second set, going up 7-1 with seven straight serves from Maddie Gillispie. UMHB did not let up that lead, claiming a 25-17 victory. Simpson kept the final set close, until a kill from Frasca sparked a four-point run to create a 14-9 gap. The Cru did not let their lead drop below three, finishing the sweep with a 25-16 third set win.
Cameron Pesek led the Cru with nine kills, while Katie Warden added eight to UMHB's 34 total. Defensively, Gillispie led the match with 16 digs while Warden totaled four blocks. The Cru limited the Storm to 28 kills with eight team blocks and 50 total digs.
UMHB returns to action Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. match against Schreiner in Belton.
