UD Volleyball Captures 2 Wins on Friday to Start Millsaps/Belhaven Invite

JACKSON, Miss. – The University of Dallas volleyball team rallied from down 2-0 to stun East Texas Baptist University, and then followed with a 3-1 win over host Belhaven University to capture a 2-0 start to the Millsaps/Belhaven Invite on Friday.

After dropping the first two sets to an unblemished ETBU (6-1) by two points that went extra serves, the Crusaders (2-4) came up with the momentum over the next three sets by outscoring their opponent 65-45. Dallas dominated in the nightcap with the Blazers (2-5), winning by at least eight points in the trio of sets with a triumph. The lone setback was a 27-25 margin in the second set.

(Game 1 vs. ETBU)

Scores

Set 1: 27-25

Set 2: 28-26

Set 3: 19-25

Set 4: 18-25

Set 5: 8-15

Dayjah Whyte (Round Rock, Texas) and Abigail Porras (El Paso, Texas) scored season-highs in kills with 15 and 13, respectively. Whyte added six blocks and totaled 23 points. Porras hit .333 to go with nine digs and three service aces. Isabel Garcia (San Antonio, Texas) chipped in seven kills and nine digs as well.

Ellise Anable (Phoenix, Ariz.) recorded a career-high six service aces to lead the Crusaders' 16 as a team. Dallas also had a quartet of players reach double-digits for digs that contributed to a season-best 102.

Larissa Ramirez (San Antonio, Texas) and Stephanie Janysek (Sinton, Texas) shared the setting duties with 19 and 15 respective totals on the assists.

ETBU was led offensively in kills by Kennedy Peacock and Allie Fennell with 13 and 10, respectively. Lizeth Flores tossed in nine. Cassidy Zellmer notched a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs.

This win gave Dallas 400 for the program's history.

(Game 2 vs. Belhaven)

Scores

Set 1: 25-15

Set 2: 25-27

Set 3: 25-17

Set 4: 25-13

Porras distributed personal-best numbers to lift the Crusaders to their second win in a row and on the evening, as she went for 19 kills, five service aces, and hit a .385 percentage for 24.5 points. Ramirez handled 26 assists for her second-highest mark of the freshman's career.

Garcia followed Porras with nine kills and was shy one of having a double-double to go with her 10 digs. Those rounded out another quartet of players in double figures for digs led by Ramirez with 17. Anable followed with 15 and Krystyn Pua (Escondido, Calif.) added 12. Dallas held a 70-56 edge in digs.

UD matched its season-high 16 aces in both wins.

SOCIAL MEDIA

#UDCRUSADERS WIN! @UDallasVball breaks into win column with pair of victories on Friday!#WeAreUD #d3vb #UDallas pic.twitter.com/PrW3h1LRbE

— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) September 7, 2019

UP NEXT

Dallas finishes up the Millsaps/Belhaven Invite on Saturday with two matches at Millsaps' court against Huntingdon College and Central Baptist College.