MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Mississippi University for Women volleyball team, which was one of the original sports when the University reinstated athletics in 2017, scored a milestone victory by defeating Huntingdon College, 3-2, in a grueling, five-set (10-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13) match at the Catherine Dixon Roland Arena. The win marked the first time since 2017 restart of the program, that the Owls (3-9) have defeated the Hawks (4-13), snapping a 10-match losing streak versus the non-conference, regional foe.
Prior to the win by The W, Huntingdon had thoroughly dominated the series. How dominating, you ask? In the previous 10 meetings, MUW had managed to win just one set, combined, and that came in 2021.
But the Owls flipped the script in a big way.
After being dominated by the Hawks in the first set, a rejuvenated MUW squad battled strong in set two and held off a late charge by the hosts. With its back against the wall after Huntingdon took the third set, MUW evened matters with a comfortable fourth-set win. Tying the set at 9-9 on a side-out point,
Camryn Johnson served five-straight winning points as The W took the lead it would not relinquish.
In the fifth and deciding set, it was Huntingdon bolting out to a 4-1 lead. The teams went back and forth, with MUW still down by two at 11-9. A Hawks' service error, followed by three winning serves from newcomer
Haley Ridings saw The W pull ahead, 13-11. But HC would answer with a pair of points to knot matters at 13-13.
The Owls got to match point after a Huntingdon attack error. Senior
Karmen McCrory had the serve for the Owls and delivered a perfectly placed ace to give her team the set and match point.
It was McCrory's match-leading fourth ace of the night and none was bigger.
Up front, the Owls' offense was led by
Llayne Skinner's 11 kills. Skinner did her part all around as she also amassed 23 digs.
All-American
Maggie Griggs added seven kills and
Zoe Hansen six.
Senior libero
Madison Suggs made a match-high 27 digs. Setters
Hannah Duran and Johnson each had 10 assists. Ridings had four blocks (two solo).
Allison Carpenter, another of the Owls' new faces in 2023, served three aces and chipped in 17 digs. However, a huge contribution that might be overlooked was her deftness handling the Hawks' servers. In 23 reception attempts, she was errorless for the match.
The W returns to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday in Fulton, Mo., with matches versus Eureka College and host Westminster College.
