IRVING, Texas --The Howard Payne volleyball team rallied after an early one-set deficit to secure a 3-1 win (23-25, 27-25, 25-10, 25-16) over the University of Dallas Crusaders Tuesday on the road at Maher Athletic Center.
The out-of-conference win improved the Yellow Jackets' overall record to 8-6 on the season.
The Yellow Jackets were led by a double-double from Tara Bennett, who registered 12 kills and 12 digs on the day. Makenzie Weddel also added 13 kills to help the attack.Bennett also pitched in with five in the contest. On the defensive end, Kassidy Johnson chipped in for with 13 digs to go with three blocks from Rylee Spencer.
Game Notes
» Howard Payne had three players in double figures in digs.
» Tara Bennett had a match-high five aces in the win.
» Tara Bennett registered a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs
» Makenzie Weddel had a team-high 13 kills for Howard Payne.
» Howard Payne got a team-high 13 digs from Kassidy Johnson.
» Howard Payne attackers were helped by a team-high 13 assists from Jolee Van Dyke.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Yellow Jackets couldn't survive a ferocious Dallas rally in the first set, losing 25-23 after leading by seven points at 10-3 earlier in the set.
SET 2 | Howard Payne responded to pick up a 27-25 victory in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. The Yellow Jackets persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured six lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way. The Yellow Jackets racked up 17 kills over the course of the set.
SET 3 | Howard Payne built on that second-set success with a victory in set number three to open up a lead at two sets to one. The Yellow Jackets took control of the set early when the score was 2-1 and held the lead the rest of the way to win 25-10. Howard Payne led by 15 points at 24-9 before closing out the stanza. The Howard Payne offense also got a boost from four aces in the stanza.
SET 4 | Howard Payne claimed a match win with a 25-16 fourth-set victory, winning their third set in a row. The Yellow Jackets grabbed control of the set at 2-1 and never looked back. Howard Payne led by as many as nine points at 21-12 before closing out the stanza, totaling 16 kills along the way.
The Lady Jackets will play next at home on Friday versus UT Dallas at 6:00 pm.
