SHERMAN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas volleyball team moved to 2-1 on the season as they picked up a pair of victories on the opening day of the Austin College Invitational on Friday, defeating Lyon College in four sets before sweeping Belhaven University at Hughey Gym.
The two victories marked the first wins of the season for the Tornados and the first two victories of the Annika Canaba era. Concordia improved to 2-1 on the season after dropping its season opener.
Game One: CTX 3, Lyon 1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16)
After Lyon claimed the opening set, Concordia responded immediately. The Tornados evened the match with a 25-18 win in the second before taking control with consecutive 25-17 and 25-16 victories to close out the match.
CTX was efficient offensively, finishing with 44 kills and only 10 attacking errors on 111 attempts for a .306 hitting percentage. The Tornados hit .364 in the third set and .344 in the fourth while recording 15 kills in the final frame. Concordia also held Lyon to a .129 hitting percentage and totaled 12 service aces.
Brooklynne Fitzgerald led the way with a match-high 15 kills on a .429 hitting percentage while adding 10 digs, three service aces and four block assists.
Katherine Dedear added 11 kills, seven digs and three aces, while Aubrey Hughes was efficient with nine kills on 15 swings for a .533 hitting percentage to go along with two aces and three total blocks. McKinley Grimm directed the offense with a match-high 22 assists and added seven digs and two aces.
Box Score Standouts
Fitzgerald: 15 kills, .429 hitting %, 10 digs, 3 aces, 4 block ast
Dedear: 11 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces
Hughes: 9 kills, .533 hitting %, 3 total blocks, 2 aces
Grimm: 22 ast, 7 digs, 2 aces
Game Two: CTX 3, Belhaven 0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-18)
The Tornados moved to 2-1 overall as they controlled the opener with a 25-15 victory before holding off the Blazers in the closest set of the match, 25-22. CTX finished off its perfect day with a 25-18 win in the third.
Concordia's defense helped dictate the match, limiting Belhaven to a .037 hitting percentage and forcing 27 attacking errors. The Tornados also held an 8-1 advantage in service aces and finished with 42 digs.
Fitzgerald once again paced the Tornados offensively with 10 kills, six digs, two aces and three total blocks.
Katelyn Marion finished with four kills on seven attempts for a team-best .429 hitting percentage and added a solo block. Samantha Taylor contributed five kills while hitting .333, and Hughes totaled five block assists to go along with two kills and an ace.
Grimm dished out a team-high 13 assists with six digs, while Aniyah Tompkins added nine helpers. Jade Romero anchored the back row with a match-high 15 digs and served three of Concordia's eight aces.
Box Score Standouts
Fitzgerald: 10 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces, 3 total blocks
Romero: 15 digs, 3 aces
Grimm: 13 assists, 6 digs
Marion: 4 kills, .429 hitting %, 1 solo block
Hughes: 5 block assists, 2 kills, 1 ace
Concordia Texas will look to remain hot as they will close out the Austin College Invitational with another pair of contests on Saturday. CTX will take on McMurry at 9am and Hardin-Simmons at 11am.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX volleyball program, follow us on social media @ctxathletics and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
