BELTON, Tex. – The Alverno College volleyball team opened its weekend play in Texas on Friday, taking on the Mary-Hardin Baylor (UMHB) and Schreiner, each for the second time this season at the UMHB Tournament. The Inferno dropped both contests, as both the Cru and the Mountaineers picked up their second wins against Alverno this year.

With the results, Alverno moves to 1-6 on the season and will return to action at the UMHB tomorrow, Sept. 13, when they take on LeTourneau at 11:15 a.m. and Hardin-Simmons for the second time this year, at 3:45 p.m.

Mary-Hardin Baylor 3, Alverno 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-10)
UMHB opened its tournament on Friday by sweeping the Alverno Inferno for the second time this season.

The win pushed the Cru to 8-1 overall and extended their winning streak to eight matches.

Freshman Mary Needham (San Tan Valley, Ariz./Poston Butte) continued her strong play, leading Alverno with eight kills and eight points. Senior setter Sharisty Kooch (Terrebonne, Ore./Redmond) was steady as well, contributing 10 assists, seven digs, and three service aces. Freshman Sofia Mitchell (Denver, Colo./Denver School of Science & Technology: Montview) anchored the defense at the net with two solo blocks and a block assist.

UMHB controlled every major statistical category, outkilling Alverno 33-18 and finishing with 15 service aces over three sets. The Cru also held the advantage in assists (29-16) and digs (45-32).

The opening set featured a competitive start, as Alverno held a 10-8 lead behind a pair of Cru errors and a Kooch kill in a quick 3-0 Inferno burst. A 6-0 UMHB run briefly swung momentum, but back-to-back kills from Needham and a Cru error brought Alverno back within one. From there, UMHB closed the set on an 11-2 run to take it 25-15.

The Cru jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the second set, but Alverno responded well, holding a 12-11 advantage throughout the rest of the set, with four kills from Needham in the frame. UMHB, however, regained control and closed the set 25-15, capped by consecutive kills from Baylee Mobley to build a 2-0 match lead.

Alverno started the third set strong, scoring four straight points on two service aces from Kooch and a Needham kill. UMHB countered with an 11-1 run, building itself a comfortable cushion. The Inferno trimmed the deficit to five thanks to kills from Leilani Curtis (Rockford, Ill./Auburn) and Holly King (Richland Center, Wis./Ithaca), but the Cru pulled away to close out the set 25-10 and the match.

Mobley paced UMHB with 12 points on six kills and six service aces while also recording seven digs. Kendall Harrington added 17 assists, seven digs, and four kills for the Cru in the win.

Schreiner 3, Alverno 0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-17)
In their second match of the day, Schreiner defeated the Inferno in three sets, marking their second defeat over Alverno this season. With the victory, the Mountaineers picked up their second win of the day, moving 7-3 on the season.

Mitchell and Needham each had five kills to lead the team in their second game of the day, and King led the team with 7.5 points, as she had four kills, three service aces, and chipped in a block assist, while also defending five digs. Kooch had 11 assists for the Inferno, also contributing two service aces and six digs, while Brooklynne Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) led the defensive effort with 11 digs.

A fantastic swinging night for Schreiner led them to the victory, as they hit .356 (46-9-104), while holding the Inferno to .080 (21-13-100). The Inferno defended well, accumulating 44 digs, but the Mountaineers did as well, and they totaled 58 digs. Schreiner also had the advantage in kills (46-21) and assists (45-20).

Alverno hung around in each set, not letting the Mountaineers pull away in any match. In the first set, an early 9-3 lead gave Schreiner a solid cushion, as they were able to maintain that lead despite the Inferno forcing Mountaineer errors, keeping themselves within striking distance. Schreiner held a 20-15 lead late in the match after Alverno scored back-to-back points, but a 5-1 run to end the match gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 set lead.

Set two saw Alverno respond to a 4-0 start from Schreiner with a 5-0 run of their own, capped by consecutive service aces from Kooch to give them the early lead. The Inferno held a 7-6 lead after a King kill, but four straight points started the Mountaineer run as they built their lead. Alverno got the deficit back to three at 14-11 after two Mountaineer errors, but a 7-0 run for Schreiner helped give them the eventual 25-15 second set win.

In the third and final set, Alverno once again held an early lead, as they had a 3-2 advantage. The Mountaineers were able to stack points, however, leading by 11 late in the match at 23-12. The Inferno had a strong response late, scoring four straight points thanks to a kill from Mitchell and three attack errors from Schreiner. The Mountaineers were able to close the match with Emma Frye sealing the win with a kill.

Gianna Hilliard and Mandy Ivey each led their team with seven kills, with Ivey hitting .600 (7-1-10) and also adding a service ace. Azalea De Leon contributed 18 assists, five digs, and two service aces in the Mountaineer win. More Than a Game, 25 Years of Strength and Spirit: Alverno College is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alverno Athletics. Since 2000, our student-athletes have embodied the spirit of competition, teamwork, and excellence both on and off the courts and fields. Join us in honoring a quarter-century of Inferno pride on the following dates as we celebrate 25 years of strength and spirit -

• Volleyball vs. Dominican on October 4^th at noon
• Volleyball vs. Rockford on November 1^st at noon
• Softball vs. Maranatha on March 31^st at 3 p.m.
• Softball vs. Concordia Wisconsin on April 25 at noon