Kansas City
Houston Baptist
Kangaroos Drop Opener To Houston Baptist At ULM Warhawk Classic
9/12/2008 10:30:00 PM | Volleyball
Monroe, La. -- The UMKC volleyball team fell in three sets to Houston Baptist in its first match of the ULM Warhawk Classic on Friday afternoon at the ULM Activity Center. The Kangaroos dropped the match to the Huskies by the scores of 25-18, 25-21 and 25-23.
UMKC and HBU battled through the early portion of the first set, as the Kangaroos clinged to a 10-9 lead through 19 points. HBU then scored four straight points to take a 13-10 advantage, before a kill and service ace by Christiana McQuin brought the Kangaroos to within a point at 13-12. The Huskies stretched their lead to five points at 19-14, but UMKC continued fighting. The squad pulled to within three points behind an Elizabeth Beck kill and a HBU attack error, but that's as close as the squad would come in the 25-18 defeat.
The second set started much like the first, as the score was even five times through the first 20 points. HBU proceeded to build a 14-11 lead, but the Kangaroos fought back to take a 16-14 advantage behind a pair of Erin Wellwood service aces. The Huskies quickly tied the score at 16 before the two teams traded four points to make the score 18 all. Houston Baptist then got three consecutive kills and a service ace to build a 22-18 lead before going on to the 25-21 victory.
Despite their tough luck loss in the second set, the Kangaroos came out fighting in the third set. The two teams battled to a nine all tie early in the set before the Kangaroos pulled out to an 11-9 lead. HBU tied the score at 12 all, and the set was tied five times over the next 12 points, making the score 18 all. After the Huskies grabbed a 20-18 lead, a Kate Humphreys kill pulled UMKC to within a point. The squad got to within a point on a pair of ocassions, but HBU wouldn't allow the Kangaroos to get any closer in the 25-23 victory.
UMKC finished with 30 kills and a .043 hitting percentage, while HBU had 34 kills and a .212 clip. The Kangaroos also had 22 assists and 26 digs in the match. Freshman Brittany Fossier led the squad with eight kills, while senior Mandy Tipton had nine digs. Wellwood, meanwhile, paced the team with 10 assists.
UMKC (2-8) will return to action on Saturday morning against Southeastern Louisiana beginning at 11 a.m.
