ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl volleyball team rolled in a 3-0 sweep of the Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru on Friday night at the Mabee Athletic Complex in American Southwest Conference play.
 
The Cowgirls started fast with a 5-1 lead in the first set and had a big run five straight points to lead 13-7. Hardin-Simmons took set one 25-18 over UMHB.
 
The Cru went up 3-1 in set two before the Cowgirls stormed back to lead 5-3. Neither team led by more than three points until the Cowgirls went up 23-19 before winning set two 25-20. There were ten ties and three lead changes in set two.
 
In set three, the Cowgirls came out strong again, leading 4-1. UMHB swung back in front 6-4 and the rest of the set was neck and neck. There were ten ties and six lead changes in the third set.
 
Knotted at 19-19 in the third set, the Cru got up 21-19 and then 22-21. The Cowgirls tied it at 22-22 and then Gabby Jones served three straight including an ace to seal the 25-22 third set for the Cowgirls and the ASC sweep of UMHB.
 
Cowgirl sophomore libero Kat Martinez had a career-high in digs, flying around for 32 digs against UMHB, with her previous best being 29 digs. Her 32 digs on Friday came in three sets, averaging 10.67 digs per set.
 
Abbi Allen continued her great season for the Cowgirls posting 12 kills while hitting an incredible .550, with only one error in 20 total attacks.
 
Ali Meyer led the Cowgirls in assists with 19 in assists in just three sets in the sweep and had two services aces as well.
 
The Cowgirl block party included Jadyn Hernandez, Jones, and Allen, each with four total blocks. Hernandez leads the team narrowly with 57 and over a block a set, while Allen and Jones both have more than 50 blocks on the year as well.
 
The Cowgirls get the ASC win and improve to 12-5 and 3-2 in the conference while UMHB falls to 17-4 and 2-3 in ASC play. The Cowgirls return to the Mabee on Saturday to host UT-Dallas in a non-conference match at 2 p.m.
 
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