HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team fought hard but dropped a 3-1 match to University of St. Thomas (Texas) Friday evening in Houston.
 
UMHB opened on a 5-1 run before the Celts evened the contest at five and pushed ahead to take a 9-5 lead. The Cru fought back to even the set at 10. The Celts went on a 9-1 run at the 14-14 mark to take a 23-15 lead.  UMHB responded with five unanswered points but UST closed the set to earn a 25-21 win.
 
The second set played evenly until the 7-7 mark when the Cru used a 6-0 run to surge ahead. St. Thomas fought back but the Cru stayed on top until the Celts evened the contest at 19. UST scored five consecutive points and sealed the set with a 25-20 win.
 
Set three went back-and-forth until 7-7 when the Celts moved ahead. UMHB fought back to tie the set again at 15, 18, 20, 21 and 22. UMHB took a 24-22 lead off a pair of errors from UST and ended the third set with a 25-23 win.
 
UMHB led the fourth set early, maintaining the high ground until the 13-13 mark when the Celts forced a tie. The set played back-and-forth until UST used a trio of points to take a 22-18 lead. UMHB pulled back within one but the Celts put the match away with a 25-22 win.
 
Dravyn Hurd led the Cru with 12 kills while Makenzie Weddel and Baylee Mobley each added nine. Kendall Harrington totaled 39 assists in the contest while Peyton Sedlacek tallied 25 digs. Baylee Mobley (17) and Faith Clark (12) also added double-digit dig performances.
 
UMHB returns to action in a pair of matches Saturday in Houston. The Cru will face Adrian College in a 1:30 p.m. match before taking on Alverno College at 6 p.m.