BELTON, Texas - The Blazers volleyball team fell to Concordia 3-0 in its first match Saturday afternoon before turning around and sweeping Howard Payne 3-0 in the ASC Crossover Challenge in Belton, Texas.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Concordia (TX) 3, Belhaven 0 (15-25, 23-25, 25-27)  | Belhaven 3, Howard Payne 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17)

Records: Belhaven 8-6 (1-5 ASC) | Concordia 7-7 (3-2 ASC) | Howard Payne 2-9 (1-5 ASC)

Location:  Belton, Texas

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- Concordia Match

- In the first set of the match, Concordia jumped out to a double digit lead, holding off the Blazers for a first set win, 25-15.

- The Tornados went on a 9-0 run after previously holding a slight 15-14 lead to make it 24-14.

- Despite trailing by 10 points, Vicky Vo would add four service aces, as the Blazers rallied on a 9-0 run of their own to cut the lead down to 24-23. 

- A service error ended the Blazers rally, and the Tornados took a 2-0 match lead.

- Set three was a back and forth battle for each team, with the Blazers holding a slight 24-22 advantage with match point.

- Needing one point to secure a third set victory, the green and gold yielded three straight points to the Tornados.

- Lauren Whiting tied the score back up at 25-25 before Concordia ripped off two more points to claim the set and the match victory, 3-0.

- Howard Payne Match

- The Yellowjackets and the Blazers fought back and forth for the first part of set one with the score all tied up 11-11 midway through the set.

- Belhaven utilized a Yellowjacket attacking error, a Jackie Fredericks service, and a kill from Lauren Whiting to rally off three straight points and get some separation from the Yellowjackets.

- Belhaven cruised the rest of the way in set one to claim the set 25-18.

- The momentum continued into set two for the green and gold, quickly jumping out once again to a commanding seven point lead, 14-7. 

- The Yellowjackets had no answer yet again for the Blazers attack, falling to Belhaven in set two 25-17.

- The final set looked to be closer on the scoreboard with the Blazers holding a slim 15-13 lead. 

- Belhaven overmatched the Yellowjackets in the final few points, going on a 10-4 run to close out the set and sweep the match of Howard Payne, 3-0.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Concordia Match

- Belhaven notched 35 kills collectively as a team.

- Lauren Whiting and Jackie Fredericks each collected a total of 10 kills in the contest. Additionally, Whiting finished with nine digs 

-Carissa Pauda added seven kills and five digs while Sydney McEachern led the Blazers with a team-high 20 digs.

-Megan Nobles finished behind McEachern with 13 digs against Concordia.

- Grace Eidson had a team-high 18 assists.

- Howard Payne Match

- Belhaven finished with 37 total kills as a team in the sweep of Howard Payne

- Lauren Whiting led the Blazers attack with 12 total kills on a team high 28 attacks.

- Whiting was followed by Jackie Fredericks who finished with eight kills. Carissa Pauda and Chelsea Creighton each collected seven kills apiece in the contest. 

- Grace Eidson and Grace Laukhuf combined for 36 assists. Eidson led the way with 19 total assists and Laukhauf finishing with 14 assists.

-McEachern tallied eight digs while Lauren Whiting led Belhaven with nine digs.

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UP NEXT

Belhaven will head to Tyler, Texas to take on UT Tyler next Friday, September 28th with a start time set for 7:00 p.m.

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