ABILENE, Texas –Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl volleyball team battled to a 3-2 loss against East Texas Baptist Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Complex, coming up short in American Southwest Conference game.
The Cowgirls (11-8, 2-3 ASC) battled back from a two-set deficit to force a decisive fifth set before the Tigers (13-5, 3-2 ASC) secured the match by scores of 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 19-25 and 15-11.
The Cowgirl block was on against the Tigers, with 20 total team blocks. The team record for blocks in a match was 24 blocks against Schreiner in 2003.
Jadyn Hernnadez had 13 block assists, one shy of the team individual record which Hernandez also holds with 14 blocks in a game against UTD in 2024.
Rachel Nordt and
Paige Stegall each accumulated seven blocks for the Cowgirls against ETBU.
After dropping the opening two sets, Hardin-Simmons responded with victories in the third and fourth frames to even the match. The Cowgirls hit .235 in the third set and .316 in the fourth while holding East Texas Baptist to a combined .137 hitting percentage across those two sets.
The fifth set featured six ties and three lead changes, but East Texas Baptist closed the match with a late run to secure the conference victory.
Ellie Carter led the Hardin-Simmons' attack with 11 kills.
Avery Tumlinson and Stegall each chipped in eight kills.
Madeleine Hanson had 18 assists and
Allison O'Shaughnessy added 16 assists with 16 digs for a double-double.
Brylee Pursley led the team with 24 digs at libero.
Hardin-Simmons will return to action on Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m. when it travels to Belton, Texas, to face Mary Hardin-Baylor.
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