October 5, 2011

ABILENE, Texas -- McMurry's volleyball team came into the Mabee Complex undefeated and won the first game, but Hardin-Simmons showed its championship resolve by winning the next three games en route to a 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-14 win on Wednesday in American Southwest Conference action.

Playing in front of a huge crowd of 1,476 the Cowgirls fell behind early in the first game 11-4, but rallied to make it 16-15 before McMurry pulled away. HSU again trailed 16-12 in the second game, but then turned it around. Christine Sas had two kills and Hannah Hornsby added two as the Cowgirls took the lead at 18-17. McMurry tied the game at 20-20 but HSU scored the final five points for the win.

HSU had a strong game three as well and led from the outset. HSU hit .306 in the third game and in the fourth game HSU brought out the thunder hitting .680 with 17 kills in 25 attacks in the 25-14 win. Sas and Hornsby each had six kills in seven swings in the final set.

The Cowgirls hit .333 in the match and three Cowgirls reached double figures in kills. Sas led the way with 17 kills, Madison Reyes added 15 and Hornsby added 10 and hit .450.

Sas had 16 digs for the Cowgirls and Reyes added 10 digs. Molli Owen and Kaitlin Mitchell had 26 assists each for HSU. It was senior night for Mitchell, the team's lone senior.

Both teams had eight team blocks and Kasi Conners had seven block assists for McMurry. M.J. Vickers and Stephanie Henry each had 12 kills and Bailey Marcum added 11. Vickers added 16 digs.

HSU has now won six in a row over McMurry and 14 of the last 15. HSU has also won 37 straight games at the Mabee Complex and have won 13 in a row on the season to move to 14-2 on the year and now have a one game lead over McMurry in the ASC West standings at 8-0. McMurry suffered its first loss t go to 17-1 on the year and 7-1 in ASC West play.

The Cowgirls hit the road to play in the ASC Crossover at Tyler over the weekend.