ARLINGTON, Texas – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team (0-5) battled to the end but the Blue Hose came up short with setbacks to the UIW Cardinals, 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-16) and to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 3-2 (20-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-12, 15-6) on day one of the UTA Classic.
 
How It Happened vs. Incarnate Word

• The first set was a back-and-forth affair. With PC trailing 4-2, the Blue Hose scored five straight points behind kills by Hannah Rowe, Julia Yurkovich, and Courtney Williams and two service aces by Amaris Alvarez to take a 7-4 lead. UIW scored four of the next five points tying the set at eight. The Blue Hose regained the lead, 12-9, with a 4-1 scoring run topped off by a kill from Kasey Battle. UIW scored four of the next five points tying the set at 13. PC scored four straight points taking a 17-13 lead after a kill from Williams. Presbyterian maintained the lead until UIW tied the score at 24. The Cardinals scored four of the set's final six points to capture the set, 28-26.
• In the second set, UIW jumped out to an early 7-3 lead. PC scored six of the next eight points tying the score at nine after a Williams kill. With the set tied at 13, UIW scored seven of the next 11 points taking a 20-17. Three straight points from the Blue Hose tied the score at 20. The Cardinals closed out the set, 25-23, after recording five of the final eight points.
• In the third set, UIW jumped out to an early lead by scoring the first seven points. The Cardinals pushed their lead to 15-4. Presbyterian was able to cut UIW's lead to 18-13 after a kill by Rowe. UIW scored seven of the final 10 points winning the third set, 25-16.
• Williams led the Blue Hose with 10 kills. Courtney Aulbaugh dished out 18 assists. Sophia Del Valle collected 17 digs in the match. 

 
How It Happened vs. Louisiana Tech

• In set one, Presbyterian started the set on fire scoring the first four points. The Bulldogs scored nine of the next 12 points taking a 9-7 lead. With the set tied at 14, PC scored five of the next seven points taking a 19-16 after another Williams kill. Then, the set ended up being tied at 20 when Presbyterian scored five straight points taking the first set, 25-20.
• In the second set, LA Tech scored five of the first seven points. PC scored four of the next five points tying the score at six after a kill by Williams. The Bulldogs scored four straight points regaining the lead for good and they would go on to win the set, 25-15.
• In the third set, Presbyterian tallied four of the first six points. The Bulldogs scored six of the next 10 points tying the score at eight. The lead exchanged hands several times with several ties until with the set tied at 22, the Blue Hose scored the final three points to win the set, 25-22.
• In the fourth set, with the score knotted at three, Louisiana Tech scored nine of the next 12 points taking control of the set. PC would get within five points but that would be as close as they would get as La. Tech would even the match at two sets apiece after winning the set, 25-12.
• In the fifth set, LA Tech scored six of the first nine points taking control of the set. The Bulldogs would outlast PC after winning the fifth and decisive set, 15-6.

Notables

• Williams led the Blue Hose with 21 kills in the two matches.
• Rowe recorded 16 kills on the day.
• Del Valle collected 31 digs while averaging 3.88 digs per set.
• Anna Baranski dished out 33 assists and Kinsey Bailey tallied 26 assists in the two matches.

Up Next
 The Blue Hose conclude play in the UTA Classic against UTA on Saturday, September 2 at 11:30 a.m.