Henderson State 3, Union University 2
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Multiple Reddies finished with milestone numbers on Friday evening, as Henderson State conquered the Lady Bulldogs from Union University in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-13). Courtney Bolf led all players in both kills and digs with 22 and 21 respectively, while Zuzana Ondruskova nabbed her first double-double of the season with 14 kills and 14 digs.

SET ONE
The Reddies got off to a bit of a sluggish start falling behind 6-3, but rebounded quickly, tying the game at 8-8. With the score knotted at 10, the Reddies sprung to life with a 4-1 run behind kills from Karlie Greene and Bolf, which forced a Union timeout. The stoppage didn't do the Lady Bulldogs any favors, as the Reddies used another 4-1 run to extend the lead to six, 18-12. Union answered back with a 6-2 run of their own, as HSU found themselves clinging to a 20-18 advantage. With the Reddies looking for a spark, Ondruskova stepped up big, firing a back-corner kill to finish a lengthy rally. Ondruskova tallied two more kills in the final moments of the frame to finish with six total kills in the frame, as the Reddies took the opening set 25-19.

SET TWO
It was another slow start for the Reddies in the second, and they found themselves in a quick 3-0 hole in the opening moments. Undeterred, the Reddies responded quickly and capped a 7-1 run with Bolf's third kill of the set to jump into the lead. HSU appeared to be headed towards a two-set advantage with the score 12-8, but the Lady Bulldogs had other plans, ripping off a 10-3 run to re-take a three-point lead, 18-15. A timely kill from Adrianna Hartmann, and two mistakes from the Lady Bulldogs, tied the score at 18-18, but with the set hanging in the balance, Union used a quick 3-0 spurt to take a 21-18 lead and take back all the momentum. A crafty touch-kill from Taylor Scalzi gave HSU life, but it wasn't enough, as the Lady Bulldogs tied the match with a 25-22 second set victory.

SET THREE
The Reddies found themselves in an early hole once again in the third, but it did not last long. Down 4-1, Henderson came storming back and eventually built a 17-11 lead, as it looked to gain the upper hand in a tight match. However, after a timeout, the Bulldogs found a rhythm, and ripped off an 11-2 run to quickly seize a 22-19 lead. The Reddies tried to stem the tide, but it was not to be, as the Bulldogs won the set 25-21, and took a 2-1 match lead. 

SET FOUR
For the first time in the match, it was Henderson who got off to a hot start, as HSU picked up three quick points early, which spring boarded a lengthy 13-6 run. With their back against the wall, the Reddies kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way, and never gave Union a chance to respond, as they gradually pulled away to close it out 25-15 and force a deciding fifth set.

SET FIVE
The atmosphere in the Duke Wells Center was nearing a crescendo as the Reddies and Lady Bulldogs took to the floor for the fifth set of the match. However, the boisterous cheers of the Henderson State faithful quickly turned to nervous murmurs when the Lady Bulldogs ran out to a 7-3 advantage. With the Reddies against the ropes, it was Hartmann who swung the momentum back in Henderson's favor with a big solo block, before showing off a deft touch with a clever kill. Hartmann's multifaceted play, combined by two kills by Bolf and Ondruskova capped a 7-1 run, and had the Reddies racing towards the finish line with a 10-8 lead. The match looked all but wrapped up after the Reddies extended their lead to 13-10, but the Lady Bulldogs refused to go away, and took the next three points to tie the score at 13-13. With both teams two points from victory, it was Bolf who came through for HSU, as she unleashed a powerful kill to put the Lady Bulldogs on their last legs, 14-13. The match was capped off by an impressive display of poise from freshman Tyasia McGruder, whose touch-kill tickled the line of the back right corner of the court, sending the Duke Wells Center into a victorious frenzy, as the Reddies prevailed 15-13 in the set and 3-2 in the match.

Multiple players finished with season-highs in the thrilling affair. Greene chipped in eight kills and five digs, Gigi Garramone added 19 digs from her libero spot, Abby Blackburn racked up 30 assists, Alex Tyler notched nine kills and Scalzi had her first career double-double with 27 assists and 12 digs.

Henderson State 3, Mississippi College 0
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — A balanced Reddies' offense helped push Henderson State to a victory in its home opener Friday morning, as the Reddies made quick work of Mississippi College 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-17).
Adrianna Hartmann, Zuzana Ondruskova and Alex Tyler chipped in seven kills each, while Courtney Bolf came on strong in the second and third sets, finishing with six of her own to lead Henderson offensively. Taylor Scalzi led the team with 17 assists, and Abby Blackburn collected 15 of her own. Three Reddies finished with double digit digs, as Gigi Garramone, Bolf and Ondruskova had 15, 14, and 11, respectively.

SET ONE
 The Reddies quickly controlled the match's opening set behind the defensive prowess of Karlie Greene, who picked up four blocks in the first six points to put Henderson in front 5-1. Leading 6-3, the Reddies scored six in a row as part of an 11-1 run to make the score 17-4. Two blocks and two kills from Hartmann highlighted the impressive stretch. Mississippi College did not go quietly however, engineering a 10-2 run to pull within five points, 19-14. A well-placed timeout calmed Henderson's nerves, and the Reddies went on their second 6-0 run of the set to win it 25-14.

SET TWO
The teams split the first two points of the second set, but four-straight errors from the Lady Choctaws gave HSU a comfortable 5-1 lead for the second time in the match. Mississippi College was able to settle down, but the Reddies kept the visitors at an arm's length, as the score moved to 17-13. With both teams looking to make their move, a cross-court kill from Ondruskova, and a block from Hartmann, gave the Reddies the room they needed, and pushed the score out to 20-13. The Lady Choctaws would come no closer, as Henderson closed it out 25-19 to take a commanding 2-0 advantage.

SET 3
Neither side could find much momentum early in the third, as the score was tied 2-2, 4-4, 6-6, and eventually 9-9. Finally, with the Reddies leading 11-10, HSU found its groove, and went on an 8-2 run behind kills from Greene, Ondruskova, Bolf and Hartmann. Finding themselves down 19-12, the Lady Choctaws hurled one final jab by way of a 3-0 run to pull within five, but back-to-back aces from Blackburn slammed the door, giving the Reddies a 25-17 set win, and a 3-0 match victory.