COLUMBUS, Miss. – For the second time in a week, The W volleyball lost to regional foe Huntingdon College, 3-2, in a non-conference match to cap the home-and-home series between the schools. After being swept last week at HC, the Owls (2-3) took the Hawks (3-10) to five sets, falling by set scores of 25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 15-25, 13-15 at Pohl Gym.
 
For a while, MUW looked like it might return the favor, as it was on the verge of a sweep, itself, after winning the first two sets. But the Hawks swooped back to take the next two sets and force the deciding fifth.
 
The teams traded leads early on in the finale. With the score knotted at 7-7, a kill by Amonie Silas (8 kills) and a Hawks' attack error put The W ahead, 9-7. HC would reel off three straight points to take the lead before a Madyson McBrayer (7 kills) kill again tied matters at 10-10. Huntingdon snapped off four-consecutive points that - even though MUW got closer with three winners - proved too much to overcome as the Hawks closed out the match, 15-13.
 
Junior transfer MC Brown was the match co-leader with 12 kills, along with six digs. Freshman Megan Neeb added nine kills and three solo blocks.
 
MUW's setting duo of Madison Wood and Hannah Duran had 22 and 15 assists, respectively. Duran had a team-best 11 digs, as well as three aces.
 
The W will now look to open St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a tri-match this Saturday (Sept. 21) at Westminster College (10 a.m.) and also versus Eureka College (12 p.m.), at Fulton, Mo.