Volleyball defeated by Hardin-Simmons 3-1; Rebounds with 3-0 sweep Against LeTourneau

SHERMAN, TEXAS – The University of Dallas volleyball team (5-4) settled for a split on Saturday in day two of the Austin College Invitational. Dallas was defeated 3-1 by Hardin-Simmons University, before capturing its fifth-win in just as many 3-0 sweeps; over LeTourneau University.

In the game against Hardin-Simmons, the set scores would be 25-21, 21-25, 27-25, and 25-19, as the Lady Crusaders were nipped six points or less in each contest. The opening frame saw HSU go up 5-2, before Dallas countered to gain within one on a few occasions. A trio of ties (17-all, 18-all, and 19-all) would occur, before the Cowgirls concluded the set advantage with a 6-2 stretch.

The score would remain the same in the second set, but the sides flipped, as UD captured its only triumph of the match. The third set was a nail-biter, having to go to extra points to determine a victor. The Lady Crusaders trailed 23-20, but would rally on a 4-0 run that included two kills from junior Lexi Noriega (Salinas, Calif.). An exchange of points would occur next, as the Dallas rally was shortened by three-straight points for Hardin-Simmons. Momentum swung in favor of the visiting squad on this neutral court, as Dallas would be topped in the fourth and deciding frame.

Dallas returned to an above .500 record, and has yet to drop below this fall, by taking a victory in straight sets: 25-20, 25-18, and 25-20 versus LeTourneau in the later match. The Lady Crusaders trailed throughout the first set, but would go on a 5-0 run after down 15-12 to gain a lead that would not be relinquished. With LETU down 20-19, a string of three points in a row and five of six would close the first set in a triumph for the Navy and White.

The next two sets were better for the Lady Crusaders at the onset. In the second set, Dallas led by as many as seven on different occasions throughout. In the final set, the Lady Crusaders swung things on their side from the 7-7 score juncture with a 10-3 rally on the scoreboard. The win in that game secured UD finishing 2-2 over the four matches at the invitational.

BOX SCORE RESULTS VS. HARDIN-SIMMONS (3-5)

• Senior Cat Dowgwillo (St. Louis, Mo.) was one of two players for Dallas with double figure kill totals. She led the way with a season-high 14, and fellow classmate Jaime Birzer (Ottawa, Kan.) chimed in with 10.
• Defensively, sophomore Diana Hassink continued her stellar weekend with a career-high 25 digs. The defensive specialist accumulated 84 over the four-game stretch, digging at least 10 in each one.
• Junior Jessie Koster (Sherwood, Ore.) contributed 21 digs and two service aces in the setback.
• Freshman Elizabeth Smith (Broken Arrow, Okla.) amassed a career-high 41 assists, surpassing her previous high by three last night against East Texas Baptist University.
• As a team, UD pounded six block assists and five block solos. Birzer paced the Lady Crusaders with one and five, respectively, and Dowgwillo was involved in a pair of block assists.
• Hardin-Simmons was led offensively by Allison Kuster with 18 kills. Corrie Hall and Morgan Prince added 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Morgan Prince handled 26 assists, while Rebekah Hayes was nearly even with 24. Four players would nab double-digit totals for digs, led by Lauren Wish with 20.

BOX SCORE RESULTS VS. LETOURNEAU (2-7)

• Noriega notched a personal and team-high 14 kills against the YellowJackts. The junior from Salinas, California, broke double-digit totals in that category through three games in the tournament. She also added 10 digs.
• Dowgwillo posted consecutive matches with double figure kills, contributing 12 in this one. Both contests today were the first time this fall, the senior eclipsed the 10-point mark.
• Smith provided 33 assists, while Koster led the way with 22 digs. Joining her to form a trio of players in double figures for digs were Hassink and Noriega with 10 apiece.
• Dallas hit a .261 kill percentage in this match, marking a team-high on the season.
• For the LeTourneau, A.J. Campbell led the team with eight kills and Dolores Kroese followed with seven. Bri Smith and Korissa White added 13 and 11 assists, respectively. Alli Bordelon garnered a team-high 13 digs.

UP NEXT

Dallas returns to the Maher Center for its second home match this season on Thursday, September 17. The tilt against Southwestern Assemblies of God is at 7 p.m.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

-Voted by coaches

Rebekah Bowden – AC

Mallory Sanders – ETBU

Corrie Hall – Hardin-Simmons

Alli Bordelon – LETU

Ashlyn Broussard – St. Gregory's

Jessie Koster – UD

Olivia Drummond – Southwestern

Taylor Reid – HPU