Volleyball knocks of Sul Ross State; Unable to complete comeback on McMurry
SHERMAN, Texas – The University of Dallas volleyball team (4-5) completed the Austin College invitational with a 1-1 split on Saturday to go 1-3 overall in the two-day event. For the second straight weekend, the Crusaders swept Sul Ross State University (1-8) in straight sets. In the nightcap against McMurry University (6-3), the Crusaders rallied to force a fifth set but would fall 3-2.
For the second weekend in a row, Jessie Koster (Sherwood, Ore.) was named to the All-Tournament Team.
MATCH VS. SUL ROSS STATE
Set Scores: W 3-0 | (25-16, 25-18, 25-23)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dallas took advantage of early momentum and built a double-digit lead (14-4) through the first 18 serves. That included a string of seven straight that was rounded out by a kill from Mairin Guilfoyle (Roanoke, Va.) that pushed the score to 15-4. That edge ballooned to 17-5 before the Lobos started to chip into the deficit, but it would not be enough.
The middle set repeated a similar script for the two sides, as Dallas again pounced on a 15-6 run to gain control. Sul Ross made its greatest run of the match with five of the next six points coming in its favor to cut the gap to five (16-11). However, the Crusaders answered with five straight points that included two service aces on consecutive serves from Krystyn Pua (Escondido, CA). There was a furious comeback with the Lobos counting 8-of-11 points at the conclusion of the frame.
SRSU appeared to carry over that energy into the third set and leapt to a 5-1 edge. The Crusaders gritted through the surge and nipped the margin to one (7-6). The Lobos did not release the lead on the scoreboard and eventually pushed back out to a 16-11 advantage. After closing the difference to three (17-14) a few serves later, the Lobos notched a trio of points to double the lead 20-14).
An attack error helped give UD possession and sparked a 6-0 run for the Navy and White. Diana Hassink (Tulsa, Okla.) was serving during this stretch. The streak knotted the scoreboard 20-all. After a point for the opponent, Dallas tied the game and Guilfoyle propelled the Crusaders in front with a kill (22-21). The squads exchanged points and Mary Scholz (Fallon, Nev.) had the crucial kill to set up a game point that was secured on a ball handling error by the Lobos. UD snapped a three-game losing streak in the win.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Guilfoyle led the team with 13 kills and posted 13.5 points. Hassink notched her second double figure kill total of the weekend with 10. It is the junior outside hitter's fourth time to eclipse that mark.
- Koster led the defense with 29 digs.
- Elizabeth Smith (Broken Arrow, Okla.) accumulated her second highest number of assists on the campaign with 34.
- Sul Ross State hit a .300 (10-30) kill percentage in the second set. Candice Hugi led with seven kills.
- Katie Reeves and Nina Sterling each posted 12 assists.
MATCH VS. MCMURRY UNIVERSITY
Set Scores: L 3-2 | (18-25, 27-25, 25-16, 12-25, 15-9)
Dallas trailed early in the opening set by as many as six to start (8-2), but clipped the margin with five points in a row. After allowing an opposition score, the Crusaders rallied for a lead that wasn't returned by going on an 8-2 swing. That catapulted UD to a 1-0 set advantage for the second straight contest.
However, an intense back-and-forth second set evened the match score 1-all. Dallas challenged to stay in at the very in as a kill by Guilfoyle tied the scoreboard 25-25. However the Warhawks benefitted on the next two attack errors to uptick their point column for the triumph.
In the third frame, another tight battle took place until the final seven points opened a nine-point win for McMurry. UD returned in the fourth set with the most lopsided point differential of the evening.
The energy Dallas expended in the double-digit winning frame proved not enough to claw out a five-set win. The Crusaders are now 1-1 in such games that go all five sets, after winning the season opener with Arlington Baptist College.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Dallas claimed 19 kills in the second set and 16 in the first set. The team combined for 20 in the remaining three sets.
- Guilfoyle shattered a personal best in kills with 19 and boasted her first double-double of the year with a season-best 17 digs.
- Hassink dazzled with a double-double of 14 kills (new career-high) and 15 digs. Hassink finished 35 kills over the last trio of games and 40 over the invitational. Scholz rounded out the trio of UD double figure kill performances with 14.
- Koster displayed her second highest total of digs on the season with 36 and contributed to UD's 100.
- Smith matched a season-high 38 assists.
- McMurry's Baylie Barnes and Justice McGowan gave double-digit attack kill results with 12 apiece. Odalis Rodriguez had 30 digs and the team made 105.
UP NEXT
Dallas begins Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) action on September 16-17 at Colorado College. The Crusaders will start with Centenary College on that Friday at 5 p.m. (CST). The next day, UD will face Austin College (11:30 a.m. CST) and Colorado College (6 p.m. CST).