DALLAS, Texas – Reddies Volleyball split the final day of its last non-conference tournament on Saturday. Matched up with many of Division II's elite programs in the Dallas Baptist-Texas Woman's Crossover, Henderson fell to Colorado Christian 3-1 before bouncing back to defeat MIAA opponent Missouri Southern 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-21) on Saturday afternoon.
The Reddies were led by their underclassmen in the victory against MSSU, as sophomore Tyasia McGruder and freshman McKenzie Tuyo paced the HSU offense with nine kills each. Taylor Scalzi and Abby Blackburn combined for 25 assists, and MaKenzie Thoman came up big with 19 kills. Tuyo almost had the first double-double of her career, as she racked up nine digs in the match.
Henderson starts Great American Conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 18 when it takes on Arkansas-Monticello at 2 p.m. in the Duke Wells Center. The Reddies will face Texas A&M University – Kingsville later that evening at 6 p.m.
Game 2: Henderson State 3, Missouri Southern State 0
SET ONE
The Reddies jumped all over the MSSU Lions on Saturday afternoon, taking eight of the match's first nine points to lead 8-1. The Lions used a 7-3 run to pull within three, 11-8, but a kill from Courtney Bolf jumpstarted the Reddies to a 4-0 spurt and a 15-8 lead. With the score 15-10, Henderson went on its most dominant run of the 2019 season, taking the set's last 10 points to take it, 25-10.
SET TWO
HSU found itself trading punches with the Lions early in the second set, but with the score 6-5, Henderson used a quick 4-1 run to gain breathing room and open up a 10-6 lead. After MSSU pulled within two, 14-12, the Reddies got kills from McGruder and Alex Tyler during a 4-0 spurt to grab its largest lead of the frame, 18-12. HSU had little trouble seeing out the set, and scored the final five points, three of which were kills from Bree Sanders, to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-14 win.
SET THREE
Similarly to the first set, it did not take long for the Reddies to run out to a comfortable lead in what would be the match's final frame. Back-to-back aces from Scalzi gave HSU a 2-0 advantage, before kills from Tuyo, McGruder, and Adrianna Hartmann helped HSU to a 13-5 lead. HSU maintained its eight point lead, 19-11, but MSSU would not go quietly. The Lions went on an 8-3 run to pull within three, 22-19. Henderson would not be denied, however, and kills from Sabrina Show, Tyler, and Tuyo gave HSU the set 25-21, and the match, 3-0.
Game 1: Colorado Christian 3, Henderson State 1
SET ONE
The first set between the Reddies and the Cougars was marked by runs from both squads. CCU took the first three points before the Reddies answered with five of the next six to take an early 5-4 lead. After Colorado Christian pulled in front 6-5, another 5-1 spurt, highlighted by two kills from Bolf, gave HSU its biggest advantage, 10-7. Henderson maintained its three-point lead, 14-11, before CCU answered with a 4-0 spurt to pull in front 15-14. Both teams traded punches as the set continued, but with the score tied 20-20, CCU made the last push, and took the first set 25-23.
SET TWO
The Cougars looked as though they would run away with the second set as they jumped out of the gates with a 5-1 advantage. The Reddies got right back in it however, using a 6-2 run to make it 7-7. With the score 9-7 CCU, Henderson was sparked by two kills from Tuyo, and went on its second 6-2 stretch of the set to lead 13-11. Like the first frame, the score remained tight, and at 20-20, it looked as if the Reddies took control after back-to-back kills from McGruder and Tuyo made it 22-20 HSU. Unfortunately, Henderson could not hold the lead, and fell in the second set 27-25.
SET THREE
For the second straight set, CCU jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. Again however, the Reddies answered, and used a 7-1 run to pull ahead 9-6. Although CCU would tie it 11-11, HSU would not allow the Cougars to score back-to-back points during a 10-5 run that pushed the Reddies to their biggest lead of the day, 21-16. CCU got within two, 22-20, but Henderson took the third set 25-22.
SET FOUR
The Reddies and Cougars traded punches early on in the fourth set as CCU led 6-5. Unfortunately, it would be the Cougars who took control with a 7-0 run to go in front 13-5. After back-to-back points from HSU, Colorado Christian went on another 6-1 burst and led 19-8. The Cougars ultimately cruised to victory, taking the set, and the match, with a 25-16 win.
