Brownwood, Texas - Freshmen libero Jordan Livingston finished with a career-high two service aces and freshman setter McKenna Walker added a career-high five kills and two service aces during the Lady Jackets 3-1 loss to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday evening.

The Howard Payne University volleyball team fell to 3-7 on the year and 1-1 in ASC play with a hard-fought and fast-paced match that saw the Crusaders (9-1, 1-1 ASC) outscore the Lady jackets by a total of 67-51. UMHB entered the game looking to rebound after dropping their first match of the season to Hardin-Simmons in their ASC opener.

After taking the first set 25-14, Howard Payne stormed back and took the momentum away from the Crusaders during the games second set. The Lady Jackets jumped out to a 4-0 and used their cushion to fight off several UMHB offensive attacks. They would never trail in the set and looked poised to take over the game after they scored five out the last six points to take the set, 25-17. A McKenna Walker service ace sealed the deal and the energy began to shift back over to the Howard Payne sideline to enter the games third frame.

Ashley Moore started the third set serving for the Yellow Jackets and helped spur a 4-1 start but the Crusaders battled back to tie it up at 6-6 and then pull ahead 11-6 to force a Howard Payne timeout. Jordan Livingston would help her squad rally back to tie the game at 12-12 with a service ace and a kill in back to back possesions. The Lady Jackets were fighting tough and would eventually pull ahead, 18-16 before forcing UMHB to call a timeout.

The Crusader came out of the timeout and exchanged point with Howard Payne before scoring three straight points to take the set, 25-22. Determined to pick up the win, the Lady Jackets held their own and played tenaciously down the stretch only to see that same tenacity matched by a very good UMHB squad. Howard Payne held an early 13-8 lead to start the fourth set, but UMHB would again take a timeout to regroup. 

After the break, the Crusaders would go on to score on the games' next five possessions to tie it back up and put the pressure back on the Lady Jackets. Howard Payne tried to force a fifth and final set, but for every attack they registered, UMHB would have an answer for and they would hold on to capture the set, 25-23 to take the match 3-1.

Zhartaezia Bradley recorded a team-high 13 kills and a game-high four blocks while Cheyanne Lovelady had 26 assists to lead the Lady Jackets in the game. Jordan Livingston added 18 digs and Howard would lead the game in service aces with six and blocks with seven.

The Lady Jackets will look to rebound with another home match at the Brownwood Coliseum tomorrow. This time they will face off against Concordia University at 2:00 pm and tickets for the public will be free. If you can't make it out to support your Howard Payne volleyball team, tune into HPUSports.com for links to live stats and video. 

Also, be sure to follow along on Twitter, @HPUVBall and on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat @HPUSports for in-game updates, interactive content and more. Also, don't miss the first episode of Yellow Jacket Network airing this Monday where we'll break down all the week's action with highlights, analysis, and insight. The episode will be available on Facebook and YouTube and will be airing in the HPU Athletics Student-Athlete Lobby inside the McCullough Athletics Center all week.