After dropping the two in-season matches versus UT Dallas, the Lady Jackets were able to win three straight sets to earn their first ASC postseason win in HPU volleyball history. This improves the Lady Jackets record to 12-13.
Makenzie Weddel finished with 11 kills on the day to lead the Lady Jackets attack. Defensively, HPU had four players reach double figures in digs, highlighted by Brylee Awbrey’s 21, 15 from Riley Brittain, and 12 more from Kassidy Johnson. From the front row, Rylee Spencer contributed five blocks.
Game Notes
» Howard Payne had four players in double figures in digs.
» Makenzie Weddel had a match-high four aces in the win.
» Makenzie Weddel had a team-high 11 kills for Howard Payne.
» Howard Payne got a team-high 21 digs from Brylee Awbrey.
» Howard Payne attackers were helped by a team-high 23 assists from Addison Roden.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Jackets found themselves in an early deficit, dropping the first set 25-20. Howard Payne trailed by as many as 10 points as UT Dallas never surrendered the lead in a set that was knotted up zero times before the Comets took control.
SET 2 | Howard Payne responded to pick up a 25-22 victory in set two, evening the match at one set apiece. The Lady Jackets never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that featured 10 ties and six lead changes.
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 Lady Jackets came out on top of a tight battle, winning 26-24 in a set that was tied 11 times and had seven lead changes. Howard Payne’s front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Texas-Dallas attacks in the stanza and capitalizing on 10 Comet attacking errors on the way to victory.
SET 4 | Howard Payne ended the match with a 25-20 fourth-set victory, winning their third straight set. The Lady Jackets grabbed control of the set at 2-1 and held the lead the rest of the way. Howard Payne led by as many as 10 points at 15-5 before finishing off the stanza. Howard Payne got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Texas-Dallas attacks in the stanza.
The Lady Jackets have earned their first ASC postseason win in program history, defeating UT Dallas 3-1 after dropping both in-season matches earlier this year. Howard Payne will advance to the ASC Semifinals for the first time in HPU volleyball history as they take on East Texas Baptist Friday, November 10th at 7:30 PM.