SHERMAN, Texas – Earning a three-set sweep over American Southwest Conference foe Howard Payne University to open up the day, the LeTourneau University volleyball team would be unable to carry over momentum as the YellowJackets would fall in three sets to McMurry University to split opening day matches at the Austin College Invitational in Sherman, Texas on Friday, September 7th.

LETU now sits at 1-4 overall while Howard Payne fell to 0-2. McMurry remained a perfect 5-0 with the victory.

"I am proud of the tenacity and energy we brought today in both matches" said head coach Ashley Tiernan in a post-match interview. "Our ability to adapt to change was the factor in our win against Howard Payne." "Against McMurry, we didn't have the swings needed to get ahead and it showed towards the end of each set."
                                                                                       
Vs Howard Payne How It Happened:

• Despite a 3-0 run by HPU to start the first set, LETU would claim their first lead of the afternoon at 5-4 and never looked back to claim a 25-19 victory. Four of the final six points would be scored by LeTourneau to close out the first set win.
• LETU carried over the momentum into set two, taking a quick 5-1 lead before seeing Howard Payne battle back and claim their first lead since the beginning of the first set at 12-11.
• LETU would regain the lead with a five-point run led by kills from Mikayla Thomas, Lexie Welton and Lauren Egby-McNeal and hold their lead from that point forward to claim a 25-17 victory.
• After trailing early in the third set, LETU would battle back and find a way to take over when it mattered most by ending the set on a 7-3 run and claiming the straight-sets victory.

Key Stats:

• LETU held an 8-1 advantage in service aces as well as a 9-8 advantage in blocks.
• Cam Taylor led LETU with 16 assists while Audrey Galindo recorded a team high 14 digs.
• Freshman Kianna Crow would record her second straight double-double of her collegiate career, finishing the match with 16 kills and 12 digs.

 
Vs. McMurry How It Happened:

• After a back-and-forth first set, the YellowJackets were unable to capitalize on their early leads while seeing McMurry close out the set with four of the final six points to earn the 25-20 win.
• The War Hawks took a commanding lead to start the second set, claiming nine of the first 11 points as the Yellowjackets would be unable to recover from early miscues and drop the set 25-17.
• Despite an early lead and a four-point rally midway through the set, LeTourneau would be unable to take momentum away from the War Hawks after seeing McMurry go on a 6-0 run to open up a lead and force the YellowJackets to try and play from behind for what would end up being the remainder of the set. 

Key Stats:

• Service aces would be an area of concern for LETU as the War Hawks would hold a 6-2 advantage while also managing a 7-3 advantage in blocks.
• Miscues would also do LeTourneau no favors, as 23 attack errors allowed for McMurry to go on runs in the later stages of each of the three sets. 
• Crow led the YellowJackets in kills for the fourth-straight match with 12 to go along with four digs while Galindo added 12 digs and one service ace.

What's Next?
LeTourneau will close out the Austin College Invitational on Saturday with two more matches to be played starting at 10 a.m. The YellowJackets will take on Sul Ross State University at 10 a.m. before doing battle with Paul Quinn College at 12 p.m.