BELTON, Texas - The Concordia University Texas volleyball team was bested in a pair of matchups on day one of the UMHB Invitational. The Tornados were bested 3-0 against Schreiner University and Simpson College inside the Mayborn Campus Center on Friday.
Vs. Schreiner, L 3-0 (25-22,25-12,28-26)
Junior setter Kaitlyn Ruiz led CTX in assist en route to a 17-assist, 10-dig double double, while Isabella Martinez posted a team-high with 16 digs.
In set one, Concordia managed to break away from the lead with four kills in a row by Presley Bunting to bring the score 10-5 for an early set advantage. Costly back-to-back errors by Schreiner increased the lead for CTX 13-6. Schreiner then took the lead by the end to claim set one finishing with a 25-22 score.
The Tornados once again took an early jump in the beginning of set two, getting ahead of Schreiner with a score of 6-1. Schreiner then managed to spark a 24-6 burst, closing set two with a final score of 25-12.
Set three was a competitive close match with both teams scoring back-to-back for a tie score of 8-8. until Concordia Texas posted a 13-5 burst bringing the total 21-13. This would give Concordia the advantage, but Schreiner finished the match with a 15-5 burst to claim the 28-26 victory.
Vs. Simpson, L 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-17)
Ellie Quiroz led the Tornados with 11 digs, while Selena Cooper tallied a team-high 10 digs in the second match of the day.
CTX raced out to a 4-0 advantage in set one. Simpson then sparked an 10-2 burst bringing the score 10-6. After a couple back-to-back scores Concordia then took a13-12 lead. Both teams battled to the very end in this nail-biter, but Simpson College pulled through with a victory of a total score of 26-24.
In set two, Camryn Parker fired a kill to halt Simpson's 14-4 run and start a 4-0 run, inching CTX closer with the score 19-16 later in the set. The Elephants eventually closed the second set with a 25-20 score.
It was a very close battle early in set three with both teams jockeying for position, until Simpson College surged ahead with a 17-6 outbreak to take a lead 22-11. A kill by Parker started a 4-0 run for Concordia, but Simpson ultimately finished the set to claim game three.
CTX will look to bounce back in the final matchup of the UMHB Invitational tomorrow against Concordia College (Minn.) starting at 11:15 AM.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX volleyball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
