BELTON, Texas — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team earned a 3-1 victory over Hardin-Simmons University Thursday night at the Mayborn Campus Center, improving to 15-4 overall and 6-0 in American Southwest Conference play. The Cru took the opening set 25-22, dropped the second 23-25, then responded with a pair of dominant performances to close out the match with 25-16 and 25-11 wins.
UMHB finished with 49 kills and a .222 hitting percentage while holding the Cowgirls to a .106 mark. The Cru also recorded 84 digs and 17 total blocks, using a strong defensive effort and an efficient attack to secure the conference victory.
Ava Ribakovs led the Cru with nine kills, 16 assists, 19 digs and six block assists.
Lilli Sandoval added 12 kills and 17 digs, while
Kaysen Miller contributed seven kills, 13 digs and four service aces.
Natalie Hughes and
Allie Thompson each recorded eight kills, with Hughes hitting .467 on 15 attacks.
The Cru opened the match with a 25-22 win in the first set, using a balanced offensive effort to establish an early advantage. After Hardin-Simmons evened the match with a 25-23 second-set victory, UMHB responded with greater efficiency at the net, hitting .270 in the third set before finishing with a .333 mark in the fourth.
UMHB took control early in the final set, building an 8-0 lead behind Miller's serving run. The Cru continued to extend the advantage, eventually moving ahead 14-2. Sandoval added two service aces during the set, and
Emily Cargill closed out the match with a service ace and a kill from
Angie Garcia to secure the 25-11 victory.
Chloe Brandt directed the offense with 23 assists, while Garcia added 17 digs. The Cru's defensive pressure helped limit Hardin-Simmons to just four kills in the fourth set as UMHB closed out the match in convincing fashion.
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, October 17
th in an 11 a.m. match against McMurry University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.
