ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball continued play at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational Friday, dropping a five-set decision to Mississippi College before defeating Henderson State in four sets.
The Lions wrap up the weekend Saturday at 10 a.m. against Auburn Montgomery.
Mississippi College 3, UAFS 2 (26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-13)
UAFS held a 13-10 lead in the final set, but the Choctaws scored five straight points to defeat the Lions. Three of the five points came via service ace.
The Lions had battled back from a 2-1 deficit, holding MC to a -.067 attack percentage in the fourth set to even the match. The Lions used an 8-1 run early in the set to take a 13-7 lead, receiving three kills from outside hitter Breanna Smith. The Lions later used runs of 5-0 and 4-0 to put the set away.
UAFS trailed 24-20 in the opening set, but fought off four set points to even things up before MC broke through to take the early lead. The Lions then bounced back by hitting .450 in set two, before the Choctaws returned the favor by hitting .310 in set three.
The Lions outblocked the Choctaws, 11-6, with middle blocker Crystal Smith tallying six blocks as well as 10 kills on a .333 attack percentage.
Outside hitter Lydia Pitts led the Lions with 15 kills while both Breanna Smith and right-side hitter Morgan Creer each added seven.
Setter Scarlette Young had a double-double of 21 assists and 12 digs while setter Trinity Funderburk had 16 assists. Libero Abbey Jackson had a team-high 17 digs.
UAFS 3, Henderson State 1 (25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 26-24)
Four Lions tallied double figure kills as the Lions' offense led the way over Henderson State. Crystal Smith paced the Lions with 15 kills while Pitts added 12 and Breanna Smith 11. Creer recorded 10 kills while hitting .320.
UAFS started the match by hitting .382 in the opening set and then turned to the defense in set two, holding the Reddies to -.086. The Lions had three 5-1 runs in the second set.
The Lions had an early five-point lead in the third set, but an 8-1 run by the Reddies put the home team in front. UAFS regained the lead at 19-18, but the Reddies used a 3-0 run to go back in front and then scored four of the final four points of the set.
Each team went on a run to start set four before settling into a back-and-forth affair. HSU scored four straight to take a 24-23 lead, but a pair of errors and a kill by Pitts gave the Lions the final three points to take the match.
Young dished out 28 assists and Funderburk 17 to go with 10 and nine digs, respectively. Breanna Smith added 14 digs and Pitts 10 while Jackson had a team-high 20. Crystal Smith and middle blocker Aspen Olson each had five blocks for the Lions.
