ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Henderson State University volleyball team (0-4) finished the Henderson State University Classic without a win, falling to Central Oklahoma and Christian Brothers, 3-0, Saturday afternoon in the Duke Wells Center.
GAME ONE
The Lady Reddies went up against undefeated Central Oklahoma (3-0) and struggled, dropping all three sets, 25-10, 25-18 and 25-8 in their first match of the day.
Henderson State had a hard time finding success at the net as the Lady Reddies went up against some of the tallest girls in the tournament. Central Oklahoma finished with 45 kills, hitting a .398 while HSU was held to a .013 attack percentage and 17 kills.
Junior Jessica Moss (Garland, Texas) led HSU posting the top kills for the Lady Reddies with five. Junior Taylor Thompson (Yuba City, Calif.) was Henderson State's top assist leader with 16 and Cheyenne Derr (Mansfield, Ark.) finished with nine digs.
In the first set, HSU tied things up early but two runs by the Bronchos were too much for Henderson State, falling 25-10.
Set two was a much improved showing for the Lady Reddies as they fought to the very end. After being down by double-digits, HSU mastered a run of seven straight points and even pulled within four, but their run ended there and lost set two, 25-18.
Henderson was unable to string together any points in set three, and was held to a 25-8 loss. The Lady Reddies showed their best hitting performance, only stating four attack errors.
GAME TWO
Although Henderson State fell in three straight sets, the Lady Reddies had one of its top performances so far this season. All three sets were fought hard by both teams but the Christian Brother Buccaneers (3-1) topped HSU, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19.
Once again returners Moss and Derr were atop the Lady Reddies leaderboard in kills, totaling 10 of the 19 in the match.
Defense was HSU's strong point as Derr and libero Lindsey Calabrese (Jr., San Jose, Calif.) each had seven digs. Freshman Zara Loye (Hot Springs, Ark.) and junior Sophia Cansigno (Fort Worth, Texas) both posted five digs a piece as well.
In set one, the Lady Reddies hit the most efficient for the match, registering a .125 attack percentage. HSU once again keep the set close at 9-9 until the Buccaneers went on a 9-1 run. Head coach Rhonda Thigpen called a timeout at 20-11, hoping to stop the momentum from the opposing team but Henderson State's fight was not enough.
In game two, the Lady Reddies outblocked Christian Brothers, led by junior Cherise Austin (Palmdale, Calif.), who had two blocks in the set.
As the trend has been early this season, HSU had a back and forth battle with the Buccaneers and Thompson's solo block evened the set at 14-14. Four straight points by CBU were enough for Thigpen to call their second timeout of the set but never amounted the comeback and fell, 25-19.
Looking for its first set win, Henderson State once again kept the match close early on. Several 4-0 runs put the Lady Reddies down by double digits at 21-11. HSU amassed eight more points to the Christian Brothers four, but Henderson State dropped its fourth straight game with a 25-19 loss in the final set.
The Lady Reddies will return to the court on Friday, Sept. 13 hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 6 p.m. Henderson State will turn right around and travel to Monticello, Ark. to participate in the UAM Classic, a one day tournament, squaring off against West Alabama at 11:30 a.m. and Union University at 2 p.m.
