BROWNWOOD, Texas --The Howard Payne volleyball team jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but couldn't hold on and lost in four sets (25-23, 26-28, 16-25, 23-25) to the Hardin-Simmons Cowgirls Friday at home at Brownwood Coliseum.
The loss dropped Howard Payne's record to 6-4 overall and 0-2 in ASC action.
The Yellow Jackets offense was paced by Tara Bennett, who finished with 14 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .385. Makenzie Weddel added 12 and Madai Suarez chipped in with 10 as part of balanced Howard Payne attack. got 14 digs from Emilee Casey along with five blocks from Brylee Awbrey to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Howard Payne had three players in double figures in kills.
» Tara Bennett had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Tara Bennett had a team-high 14 kills for Howard Payne.
» Howard Payne got a match-high 14 digs from Emilee Casey.
» Howard Payne attackers were helped by a match-high 23 assists from Jolee Van Dyke.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Yellow Jackets opened up an early one set to none lead, taking a close first set 25-23. Howard Payne grabbed the advantage for good at 23-22 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Yellow Jackets took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | Howard Payne then fell in the second set 28-26, tying the match at a set apiece. The Yellow Jackets fell in a close second set, losing in a stanza that was tied 13 times and had six lead changes.
SET 3 | A third-set loss put Howard Payne down 2-1. The Yellow Jackets dropped a tough set 25-16. Howard Payne trailed by as many as nine points as Hardin-Simmons grabbed the advantage for good at 11-10 in a set that was knotted up just once before the Cowgirls took over the lead.
SET 4 | Howard Payne lost the fourth set and the match, falling 25-23. The Yellow Jackets trailed by as many as six points as Hardin-Simmons grabbed the advantage for good at 21-20 and Howard Payne wasn't able to recover in a set that was tied up five times before the Cowgirls took over in the second half of the stanza.
The Lady Jackets will be in action again Oct. 4th at the Coliseum. The opponent will be LeTourneau and the match will be played at 6 pm.
