MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Courtney Bolf's 20-20 performance led the way for Henderson State on Tuesday night, as the Reddies responded from a 2-0 deficit to shock Christian Brothers 3-2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-10).
Bolf's 20 kills and 22 digs were match-highs for both teams as HSU's senior leader helped the Reddies push the season's longest winning streak to seven matches. Sabrina Show also notched a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs, while Kenzie Thoman and Matti Fairchild collected a dozen digs a piece.
It was an eventful night for Henderson's setters Abby Blackburn and Taylor Scalzi, who finished with 29 and 19 assists, respectively. Blackburn's 29 moved her into ninth in program history, while Scalzi's second assist of the match gave her 1,000 in her career.
The Reddies return to GAC play on Friday when they visit Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.
SET ONE
After kills from Thoman and Bolf put the Reddies up 3-0, the Lady Bucs appeared to grab control of the opening set with a 7-1 run which put them in front 7-4. After alternating the next six points to make the score 10-7, three kills from Bolf highlighted a 4-0 spurt that put HSU on the front foot 11-10. Unfortunately for the Reddies, another 7-1 run from CBU gave the Lady Bucs their biggest lead of the match, 17-12. Henderson crawled within two at 17-15 and 19-17, but got no closer, as Christian Brothers took the first set 25-21.
SET TWO
For the second set in a row, the Reddies built up a three-point lead when a kill from Bree Sanders and an ace from Bolf put HSU in front 7-4. Despite back-to-back kills from Alex Tyler, Henderson could not hold its advantage as CBU used a methodical 9-4 run to take a 13-11 lead. The Reddies briefly tied the set 13-13, but another 8-2 spurt by the Lady Bucs gave them a comfortable 21-15 advantage. Henderson was unable to mount a second set charge as CBU took a commanding two-set lead, 25-20.
SET THREE
Early in the third set, it looked as though the Reddies trip to the Volunteer State would be a quick one as the Lady Bucs ran out to an 8-4 advantage. However, the tide began to turn in HSU's favor when back-to-back kills from Show jumpstarted an 8-3 Reddies run which tied the set 11-11. Although Christian Brothers quickly regained a 14-11 lead, Henderson State refused to quit, and rattled off its most impressive spurt of the night – an 11-2 run that put the Reddies in front 22-16. A shell-shocked Lady Bucs team was unable to mount a comeback, as HSU got on the board with a 25-18 win.
SET FOUR
Despite back-to-back kills from Bolf and Adrianna Hartmann to start the third set, the Reddies momentum quickly dissipated as CBU used a 10-5 run to pull in front 10-7. However, just as back-to-back kills from Show ignited HSU in the third set, two-straight kills from Hartmann put the Reddies back on track in the fourth, and on their way to another 11-2 run that put Henderson in front 18-12. Although CBU took four of the next five points, the Lady Bucs would get no closer than three, as the Reddies tied the match 2-2, 25-19.
SET FIVE
Armed with all the momentum in Memphis, the Reddies left no doubt in the fifth and final set. With the score tied 2-2, the Reddies dynamic attack got kills from Hartmann, Tyler, Bolf and Sanders on an 8-3 run that gave HSU a comfortable 10-3 lead. Two 3-0 spurts from CBU made the score 13-9, but a Sanders' kill sealed the deal, the set, and the match for the Reddies, 15-10.
