ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' volleyball team beat Mississippi College and Centenary and Howard Payne beat East Texas Baptist in the first day of the American Southwest Conference Dig Pink Crossover Tournament at Hardin-Simmons.

The Cowgirls beat MC 26-24, 25-18, 25-19 in the first game of the day. HSU trailed 23-21 in the first set but rallied for the 26-24 win and took control of the match.

Madison Reyes and Hannah Hornsby each had 11 kills for the Cowgirls and Christine Sas had 10 as HSU hit .354 in the match. Sas had 15 digs and Ashley Babineaux had 12 to lead HSU. Kaitlin Mitchell had 23 assists and Molli Owen nine.

MC was paced by Courtney Creamer with eight kills and Holly Tupper had 21 digs.

In the second match of the day Howard Payne hung on for a five game win over East Texas Baptist, 26-24, 25-23, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13. The Lady Jackets won the first two games in close fashion and then watched ETBU take the next two games. However, HPU was able to hold off ETBU in the fifth for the win.

Tamika Heline had 14 kills and Sarah Bishop had 11 for HPU. Kristin Hammond led the way with 15 digs. Ashley Lindsey had 20 kills for ETBU and Jade Laurence had 26 digs.

In the final match of the day, the Cowgirls rolled by Centenary, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19.

Madison Reyes had 13 kills and 13 digs and Hornsby had 11 kills as HSU hit .284 against the taller Centenary team, which featured a 6-6 player on the front row.

Sas and Emilee Davis each had 10 digs for the Cowgirls and Owen had 18 assists and Mitchell added 11.

Sarah Sumner led Centenary with eight kills and Taylor Gilmour had 10 digs.

HSU has now won 11 straight matches and is 12-2 on the year and 6-0 in ASC play. Howard Payne improved to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in ASC play. Centenary fell to 5-7 overall (their matches do not count as conference because they are a provisional Division III member) and East Texas Baptist is now 4-11 overall and 1-6 in ASC play.

The tournament concludes tomorrow with three matches. Howard Payne and MC play at 10 a.m., HSU and East Texas Baptist play at 12:30 p.m. and Howard Payne and Centenary play at 3 p.m.

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