ARKADELPHI, Ark. – Henderson opened the 2026 Season with the Bettye Wallace Classic today, winning their first match against Cameron University 3-0, before falling in five sets to Augustana (SD) 3-2.
Sophomore
Kelis Battles was the standout for the Reddies on day one, as she secured two double-doubles (kills/digs) and led all Reddies with 28 kills on the day.
Tyhia Mack was the primary distributor for the Reddies today, as she collected 40 total assists between the two matches. On the defensive side, defending Defensive Player of the Year
Kaylon Partain led the Reddies with 54 digs.
Cassidi Campbell rounded out the strong defensive showing with five total blocks.
3-0 Win vs. Cameron
Henderson State overcame an early 3-3 tie and used kills from Battles,
Karsen Hart and
Calee Carter to take control. The Reddies pulled away late and closed the set 25-19. Henderson State hit .250 with 14 kills in the opening set.
Cameron took an early 3-0 lead, but Henderson State responded with a strong offensive stretch to take control. The Reddies built a 17-10 advantage before Cameron rallied late. Carter delivered the final point as Henderson State won 25-21 to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Reddies jumped out to a 4-0 lead and maintained control despite a late Cameron rally that cut the deficit to 17-16. Henderson State answered with a late run and finished the sweep with a 25-18 victory, capped by a
Melia Smith kill.
3-2 Loss vs. Augustana
Henderson State overcame an early deficit and rallied from behind late in the set. The Reddies erased a 19-13 deficit and eventually tied the score at 23-23. Henderson State took a 26-25 lead before closing out the set 27-25 on a Campbell block.
Augustana responded by taking control early. Henderson State stayed within striking distance at 10-9, but the Vikings pulled away with a late run. The Reddies struggled offensively and fell 25-15.
Henderson State bounced back with its strongest offensive performance of the match. The Reddies built an early advantage and maintained control throughout the set. Kills from Battles and
Lasheena Gooseberry helped Henderson State extend its lead, while a late Gooseberry-Hart block helped seal a 25-19 victory.
Augustana jumped out to a 4-0 lead and controlled the set from there. Henderson State battled back to make it 7-6, but the Vikings steadily extended their advantage. Augustana closed the set on a 5-0 run to win 25-14 and force a deciding fifth set.
The deciding set remained close early, with the teams tied at 4-4, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9. Augustana gained a two-point advantage at 12-10, and Henderson State pulled within 14-12 after a Smith block. The Vikings, however, secured the final point to take the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
Up Next –
The Reddies continue the Bettye Wallace Classic with two more matches. The first against UT-Dallas at 11:00 A.M and then will close out the tournament against Arkansas-Fort Smith at 3:00 P.M in the Duke Wells Center.
