ABILENE, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball fell to Hardin-Simmons University in a three-set game Friday evening in Abilene. The Cru's record falls to 17-4 on the season and 2-3 in the American Southwest Conference. The Cowgirls' overall record moves to 12-5 and 3-2 in conference play.
The Cowgirls took an early 5-1 lead to start the first set. After three service aces and three kills from the Cru, UMHB evened the game at six. The tie continued to the seventh-point mark until Hardin-Simmons went on a six-point run the gain the 13-7 lead. Kills from Raylee Schaffner and Kendall Harrington brought the Cru within a two-point differential but Hardin-Simmons maintained their lead to secure the first-set win 25-18.
The second set began with two consecutive kills from Schaffner to gain an early 2-0 lead. The Cowgirls evened the set at three and held on to the lead until the Cru tied it at seven. The game continued to play back-and-forth with ten tied scores until the Cowgirls went on a four-point run to take the lead 23-19. Hardin-Simmons closed the set on a kill to take the win 25-20.
Both sides of the court came out of the gates with a long-fought rally that went in favor of the Cowgirls to start with a 1-0 lead. Hardin-Simmons held the margin until two service aces from Harrington and a kill from Baylee Mobley evened the game at four. Kills from Cameron Pesek and Schaffner took the Cru up 8-6. The Cowgirls fought back to tie the game at 14. The game remained knotted up until the final points, where Hardin-Simmons capitalized and won the set 25-22, securing the match win.
Cameron Pesek led the Cru offensively with 10.5 total points scored and nine kills. Kendall Harrington added a double-double with ten assists and 17 digs. Caitlyn Ellenburg tallied 12 assists and five digs. Caiden Lasala led defensively in the libero position with 19 digs. Despite the loss, UMHB outnumbered Hardin-Simmons in total attacks on the night with 142 to the Cowgirls' 128.
The Cru returns to action Saturday, October 12th in a 1:00 PM match against Howard Payne in Brownwood.
