'Roos Split with UCSC and No. 2 ETBU

MARSHALL, Texas - The Austin College volleyball team earned a five set win over UC Santa Cruz before falling to No. 2-ranked East Texas Baptist in three sets on Friday in a pair of non-conference matches, bringing the 'Roos to 16-9 overall this season.

The team's first match against UC Santa Cruz was a back-and-forth affair, with Austin College battling to a 26-24 set one win before falling 25-19 in the second. Austin College dominated set three with a score of 25-12, but the Banana Slugs turned around and put together a 25-14 fourth set win to force a fifth. Austin College took control in the clincher, winning 15-9 to take the match.

Rachel Sadler had a match-high 13 kills in the victory, hitting .345, and Madisin Hartsfield, Selah Coleman, and Samantha Graham all had six kills. Madison Manning had 21 assists, and Laynie Kovacs paced the 'Roos with 29 digs. Sadler added five total blocks, including three solos, and Hartsfield chipped in four blocks with two solos. 

The 'Roos then took on the nationally-ranked and undefeated Tigers, falling by scores of 25-16, 25-8, 25-16 in the second match of the day. Sadler, Coleman, and Graham each had five kills as Austin College hit just .082 as a team, compared to .274 for ETBU. Manning paced the 'Roos with 11 assists and Kovacs had 15 digs, while Katie Riemer added 10 digs in the loss.