Semifinal

MARSHALL, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball dropped a close five-set match in the American Southwest Conference semifinal to Hardin-Simmons.

The first set played back-and-forth until the Cru used a 4-0 run to pull ahead with a 19-15 lead. The Cowgirls tacked on one more point but UMHB held the high ground, going ahead 21-18 and ending the first set with a 25-21 win. 

Hardin-Simmons took an early lead in the second set, but the Cru fought back, evening the contest at 8-8. The Cowgirls went back up and did not trail again until the Cru used back-to-back points for an 18-16 margin. The Cowgirls tied it again at 18 and went back up by five before the Cru got back on the board, eventually succeeding the set to Hardin-Simmons 25-20. 

The Cru took a 9-6 lead early in the fourth set and stayed on top, cruising to a 17-11 lead. The Cowgirls fought back, taking a lead at 24-23 and earned the win at 25-23. 

Set four went into extras with seven set points before the Cru finally put it away off a kill from Raylee Schaffner. The set had 18 tied scores, closing out with the UMHB on top 32-30, forcing a fifth set.

The Cru jumped to a 6-2 lead early in the fifth but the Cowgirls fought back, tying the set at 10 and going ahead by two. UMHB answered with a kill from Schaffner but the Cowgirls responded, winning the set 15-12 for a 3-2 win. 

Schaffner was the leading Crusader offensively, tallying 18 kills, followed by Dravyn Hurd with 13, and Natalie Hughes with 11. Kendall Harrington, Baylee Mobley, and Hughes each added a double-double to close out the match.  

This closes out the season for the Cru, finishing with a record of 21-6.