MARSHALL, Texas- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's volleyball team earned two wins in day two of the East Texas Baptist Tournament, defeating Carroll University and the University of Dallas. These wins improve UMHB's record to 6-1 on the season.
The Crusaders started the day with a 3-2 win against the Carroll University Pioneers. Set one began with a three-point run from the Pioneers before the Crusaders were able to stop the run with a kill from Kaysen Miller. A back-and-forth of points from both teams brought the score to 6-8 with the Pioneers in lead. The Cru gained momentum with three kills from Baylee Mobley to take their first lead at 9-8. The Pioneers charged back, gaining seven points to the Crusaders one to take back the lead at 11-16. UMHB fought back in a back-and-forth point battle, but a four-point streak from the Pioneers handed the Cru a 20-25 loss.
Set two began with point tradeoffs between the Cru and Pioneers before a four-point Cru run with kills from Sifa Olang and Cameron Pesek put UMHB ahead 7-3. The set remained a tight game with a kill by Baylee Mobley putting the Crusaders up 19-15. The Pioneers fought back making the score 19-18, but a three-point run by the Cru and a kill from Sifa Olang ended the set with a 25-18 win for UMHB.
The third set began with a Pioneer service ace, but the Crusaders countered with a five-point run to take the lead at 5-1. The set continued the back-and-forth trade off from set two, as the Cru found themselves with a 14-9 lead. The Pioneers were able to gain six points, but the Crusaders held them to a 25-16 Cru win to take the lead in the match 2-1. Set four had an early tied score at 3-3 before a four-point run from the Pioneers gave them a 7-3 lead. Carroll University fought to maintain their lead with a seven-point run before a kill from Natalie Hughes stopped them to make the set an 18-10 Pioneer lead. The Cru fought to take back the lead with a five-point run late in the set, but the Pioneers ended the fourth set with a kill and a 25-17 win to knot the match at 2-2.
The fifth and final set began with scores from both teams that led to a 6-4 Crusader deficit. A kill by Baylee Mobley led the Cru to a six-point run to give UMHB a 10-7 lead. The Pioneers fought back, but another three-point run from the Crusaders put the score at 14-9 before a kill by Cameron Pesek gave the Crusaders a 15-9 set win, and a 3-2 match win.
Cameron Pesek led the team in kills with 19 for the match, adding seven block assists. Following was Kaysen Miller with 12 kills and four block assists. Peyton Sedlacek added 26 digs for the match with Kendall Harrington tallying 41 assists.
The Cru went on to sweep the University of Dallas 3-0. Kaysen Miller kickstarted set one with a kill, followed by a Natalie Hughes service ace along with a University of Dallas error to give UMHB a quick 3-0 upper hand. Dallas pushed back to knot the game at eight. The Cru went on a seven-point streak consisting of two kills from Kendall Harrington and Natalie Hughes each. Hughes sealed the set win with a service ace, finalizing the score at 25-11.
Set two began with a five-point streak for the Cru including two service aces from Baylee Mobley, giving UMHB the 5-0 lead. Dallas earned some points back, moving the score to 5-4. The Cru found their momentum and held Dallas to just eight points in the set, rounded out by three Peyton Sedlacek service aces and one Abby Caron kill to close it out at 25-8.
The third set was a game of rallies, with lead switches throughout. The game was knotted at 24-24, forcing the set into extra points. After back-and-forth plays and tied scores until 27-27, Peyton Sedlacek sealed the deal with another game-winning service ace, giving the Cru the 29-27 set win and 3-0 match win.
Natalie Hughes led the Cru in kills, tallying 10 along with two service aces. Peyton Sedlacek earned a team-high five service aces and added nine digs. Kendall Harrington tacked on 20 assists with seven digs.
The Cru returns to action in their home opener on Thursday, September 11th in a 7:00pm matchup against Schreiner. Â
