Box Scores:
Game 1 | Game 2

JACKSON, Miss. – LeTourneau University's volleyball team checked off the first two priorities on the agenda Friday after defeating Centenary College, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22, and downing Huntingdon University, 25-9, 25-14, 18-25, 25-21, on the first day of the season at the Millsaps/Belhaven Invitational.

The YellowJackets (2-0) were tenacious on the defensive end, holding Centenary to a .111 attack rate and Huntingdon to a .087 hitting percentage. Seniors Courtney Edge and Kylie Cobb were a big key to this defensive stand. Edge had 16 digs in the first contest and 21 in the second, while Cobb totaled 18 in the second match. Samantha Winkel chipped in 10 digs each match, while Natalie Davenport had 14 in the first match. Freshman Hannah Payan had three blocks. Edge also pitched in five assists and four serving aces throughout both matches.

Offensively, the Jackets were led by Allison Smith, who hammered down seven kills in the first contest and 12 in the second. Smith finished with a .357 and .321 hitting percentage in the first and second match, respectfully. Freshman Kaci Monk had 11 kills, hitting a whopping .360 in the opener. Cobb had eight kills and three aces, while Monk and Smith added three blocks a piece in win over Centenary.

After falling in the first set, a kill by Payan on the setup from Edge sparked a 12-0 run for the YellowJackets, earning them a 14-4 advantage over the Centenary Ladies. Centenary haulted the LETU run, but after back-to-back kills by Smith from Winkel the Ladies couldn't bounce back with LeTourneau taking set two. 

The YellowJackets stung Centenary early, jumping out to a 7-1 lead to start the third set. The Ladies of Centenary crawled back after a kill by Jaylin St. Martin knotched the contest up at 10. Payan and Avery Mabery pounded down back-to-back kills to give LETU a 19-12 lead. A kill from Monk and another putaway from Payan sealed the set for the Jackets. LETU took a 2-1 advantage going into the fourth set.

The deciding set had the presence of a heavyweight prize match, with both team throwing punches. This set featured four ties and three lead changes. A block from Smith and a kill striked down by Cobb on the delivery from Winkel, the Jackets sat atop, 12-8. After an attack error by LETU and a kill from the Ladies' Jaycie Proctor Centenary took a one point lead, 19-18. A 6-0 run fueld by Payan's two kills and a block put the YellowJackets back on top, 24-19. A service error committed by Centenary gave LeTourneau the match victory.

In game two on the day, LETU picked up right where they left off in game one, propelling to a 2-0 match lead heading into the third set. 

The YellowJackets hit .346 in the first set, banging down eleven kills. LeTourneau held the Hawks to .-0.092 and .000 in the first two sets. 

Coming up short in the third set, the Jackets looked to bounce back in the deciding set. The beginning of the set was a back and forth battle that highlighted six ties. A run by Huntingdon put the Hawks up 13-8. The YellowJackets compiled a run of its own, powered by a kill and serving ace from Monk, gaining the lead, 15-14. LeTourneau took the lead and never looked back. After some attack errors from Huntingdon, Smith tallied two huge kills to keep the Jackets moving in the right direction, boosting the LETU lead, 22-18. A kill by Maddy Denega confirmed the match win for the LeTourneau.

The YellowJackets meet host Millsaps College at 10 a.m. Saturday and No. 19 nationally ranked Birmigham-Southern College at 12 p.m. to close out the weekend.