LONGVIEW, Texas – Hannah Payan's best match in a Yellowjacket uniform helped LeTourneau to a 3-1 win over Hardin-Simmons in an American Southwest Conference match at Solheim Arena Saturday.
 
The freshman from El Paso, Texas, set personal bests in kills, attacks, hitting percentage and matched her dig mark with six. She converted 18-of-32 attempts, with six miscues, posting a .375 hitting percentage.
 
LeTourneau (10-5, 5-3) moved up to fourth in the conference standings with the 26-24, 25-15, 23-25, 25-19 result. The Cowgirls fell to 5-5 on the campaign and 4-5 in league competition, sitting in the sixth and final qualifying position for the conference championship.
 
Neither side led by more than two in the opening set, which featured 17 ties and five lead change. The final came after the Yellowjackets trailed 22-21. They responded with kills by Kianna Crow and Allison Smith, forcing a timeout by the guests. A Cowgirls error gave the home squad set point, but a kill and ace evened everything at 24 apiece. Payan's lone kill in the game and a combo block by Kaci Monk and Natalie Connelly secured the 1-0 edge for the Yellowjackets.
 
LeTourneau hit a match high .429 in game two, grabbing control from the start. Leading 19-13 the Yellowjackets recorded the next five tallies to reach set point. After a pair of points for the opposition, Skylar Fowler smashed home the clincher.
 
Hardin-Simmons staved off elimination by outlasting LeTourneau in least appealing game of the contests. The team's combined to make 11 attacking errors. The Cowgirls add three miscues at the service line, one on a set and a ball-handling mistake. Knotted at 17, Hardin-Simmons won the race to 25, forcing another game.
 
Hoping to avoid a fifth set, the Yellowjackets vaulted out to a seven-point edge at 18-11 and seemed poised to cruise to the finish line. A 4-1 spurt by the guests shaved the deficit to five but that was the closest they would get.
 
Inside the Numbers
LeTourneau went a perfect 4-0 this week, including 2-0 in league play.
The win is the fourth in a row over Hardin-Simmons.
Crow joined Payan in double-digit kills in recording a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs.
Samantha Winkel posted a double-double with 16 assists and 10 digs.
Reina Lawson tallied a game-high 27 helpers.
Hardin-Simmons committed 15 service aces, including seven in the opening set.
Smith and Monk each blocked a game high five shots.
 
LeTourneau returns to action Oct. 5 in Marshall, Texas. First serve between the Yellowjackets and East Texas Baptist is at 6 p.m.
 
Follow LeTourneau Athletics
For complete coverage of LeTourneau athletics, please follow the Yellowjackets on social media at @LETUAthletics (Twitter), /letuathletics (Facebook), @letu_athletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of LeTourneau Athletics at letuathletics.com.