Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TYLER, Texas – The Belhaven volleyball team dropped to 2-7 on the season on Saturday after suffering a pair of losses in the University of Texas-Tyler tournament.

Belhaven's first loss came against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor after a tough first set saw the Blazers fall 28-26. The Crusaders went on to take the next two sets 25-9 and 25-14.

"Our inexperience is beginning to show, but I appreciate how these girls stay together during a rough stretch," Head Coach Justin Dee said. "I am proud of how we battled in the first set today, but we need to learn to keep our intensity throughout a full match."

Senior Brittany Ammons tallied seven kills, while sophomore Taylor Hall added six of her own. Senior defensive specialist Katherine Owen accumulated 23 digs in the first match.

The offense improved slightly for the Blazers in their match against Howard Payne University, but the Yellow Jackets ultimately prevailed, taking all three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-16, and 25-20.

Senior setter Alyson Plyler assisted on 28 kills in the match, while senior Gabriella Zorzoli led the way defensively, racking up 18 digs. Hall added eight kills to give her a total of 14 on the afternoon.

"Howard Payne moved the ball around the entire court well," Dee said. "We were not disciplined in our blocking, and that was a key difference in the defeat."

The Blazers will play their home opener on Tuesday at Rugg Arena at 7:00 pm, a venue Dee and his team is embracing.

"Our offense has not been great," Dee said. "I believe a change of scenery will help us focus on finishing points as we come home for our match against Mississippi College."

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