ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl volleyball team celebrated senior day with a four-set win over Howard Payne, defeating the Yellow Jackets 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16 Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Complex.
The Cowgirls improved to 13-10 overall and 3-5 in American Southwest Conference play, using a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive effort to secure the win in front of a senior day crowd.
Addy Delgado led the Cowgirls with 13 kills while adding 13 digs for a double-double effort.
Paige Stegall was highly efficient with nine kills on a .471 hitting percentage, while
Jadyn Hernandez added nine kills and eight total blocks.
Avery Tumlinson and
Ellie Carter each contributed eight kills, and
Rachel Nordt chipped in seven kills. The Cowgirls hit .272 as a team and recorded 56 kills in the match.
The Hardin-Simmons offense was directed by setters
Allison O'Shaughnessy and
Madeleine Hanson, who combined for 49 assists. Hanson added 24 assists, while O'Shaughnessy totaled 25.
Defensively,
Brylee Pursley paced the back row with a match-high 25 digs. Delgado added 13 digs, while O'Shaughnessy contributed ten with a double-double with assists. The Cowgirls also controlled the net with six solo blocks and 12 block assists.
After taking the opening set, the Cowgirls responded to a second-set setback by claiming the third frame and then pulling away in the fourth. Hardin-Simmons closed the match with a .343 attack percentage in the final set while holding Howard Payne to a .069 hitting mark.
Hardin-Simmons returns to action on Friday when the Cowgirls travel across town to face McMurry at 6 p.m. in Abilene, Texas.
--- www.hsuathletics.com ---
