Sherman, Texas -- The Austin College volleyball team dropped both of its matches on day two of the 21st Annual Austin College Invitational on Saturday, falling 3-0 to East Texas Baptist before coming up short in a comeback bid against McMurry 3-1. The 然oos are now 5-3 overall on the season.

The 然oos got off to a slow start against East Texas Baptist and never recovered, falling 25-14 in the first set before dropping the next two by scores of 25-18 and 25-19. The 然oos hit -.038 as a team, with 29 attacking errors in the match. Kristen Massey led the way with seven kills, while Hannah Arbaugh had 18 digs and Mari Prazak added 16. Brooklyn Talley had a double-double with 13 assists and 11 digs.

Against undefeated McMurry, the 然oos again got out to a sluggish start, dropping the first set 25-13. The 然oos started to gain momentum in the second set before falling 25-23, but carried that momentum into the third, which they took by a score of 25-23. Austin College would come up just short, however, with McMurry putting them away 25-21 in another hotly contested set. Arbaugh paced the 然oos with 11 kills and added 19 digs, while Talley and Sam Fawcett each had 20 assists. Massey, Shelbi Cook, and Aelyn Rodriguez each had eight kills, and Prazak led the 然oos with 23 digs.

The 然oos open up Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play next weekend, beginning with a match against Texas Lutheran on Friday at 3:00 p.m. on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

photos by Allen Rich