Photo by Russell Marwitz/True To The Cru/russellmarwitz.com
MARSHALL, Texas- In a matchup between two of the ASC’s frontrunners on Saturday morning, it took five sets to decide a winner between UMHB and East Texas Baptist.
After taking a 10-1 lead in the decisive fifth set, it was the host Tigers who prevailed, winning by a 15-5 margin. ETBU’s 3-2 win dropped UMHB to 9-1 overall, and 1-1 in American Southwest Conference play. ETBU improves to 9-3, and remains undefeated against ASC opponents, at 3-0.
The fact that the match went to five sets is a testament to UMHB’s effort. The Crusaders took a 25-22 victory in the opening set, but dropped the next two, by scores of 25-20 and 25-21. Trailing 2-1, the visitors from Belton responded in the fourth set with a 26-24 win. ETBU’s Hannah Perry tallied a kill late in the set, knotting the score at 24 apiece.
The Tigers needed a win in just one more set to seal the victory, but UMHB’s Dravyn Hurd countered with a kill of her own. An attack error on ETBU’s Graycee Mosley followed, which tied the overall score at 2-2, and sent the match into the fifth set.
Even after ETBU went up 10-1, UMHB’s fight did not waver, despite the sizable deficit. The Crusaders scored the next three points, and pulled back within seven points, 11-4. But the Tigers surged late, scoring the final four points.
Match Notes
- It marked UMHB’s second five-set match of the season, with the first coming on Sept. 8 in Memphis against Austin College. UMHB is now 1-1 in five-set matches in 2023.
- Each of the last four matches played between UMHB and ETBU has gone to five sets. UMHB is 1-3 in those contests.
- Hannah Frasca led the Crusaders in kills, with 11. It marked Frasca’s sixth double-digit kill performance of 2023.
- Frasca posted her second straight double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs.
- Kendall Harrington tallied 32 assists, leading the team in that category. It marked Harrington’s fourth-straight match with 30+ assists.
- Dravyn Hurd recorded six total blocks (5 block assists, 1 solo block), marking the sixth straight match in which she recorded at least four total blocks.
- UMHB battles ETBU once more in the 2023 season on Oct. 13, when the Crusaders host the Tigers at 6 p.m. in Belton.
Up Next
UMHB heads to Conway, Arkansas on Sunday, where The Cru is scheduled to face Hendrix College at noon and Centenary at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader. ASC play resumes next Friday in Belton with a 6 p.m. home contest against Hardin-Simmons.
So proud of these young ladies. They play with heart and compassion.
Go CRu!