Box Score
EDINBURG, Texas – Houston Baptist controlled the middle as junior middle blocker
Caiti Wenger and sophomore middle blocker
Madeline Gaffney combined for 20 kills, only two errors and four blocks as the Huskies swept Texas-Pan American, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-11), in Great West Conference volleyball Saturday afternoon at UTPA Fieldhouse.
Wenger hit .588 with 11 kills and two blocks, while Gaffney hit .500 with nine kills and two blocks for the Huskies (16-10, 4-1 GWC). Senior outside hitter
Heather Leaverton and sophomore outside hitters
Jasmine Casey and
Bailey Keith had seven kills apiece. Leaverton paced the Huskies defensively with 13 digs, while Casey and sophomore libero
Esther Longoria had 11 each. Casey also had four of HBU's seven service aces. Senior setter
Victoria Weatherly dished out 36 assists and had five digs.
Maria Kliefoth had eight kills and five digs for UTPA (9-15, 2-2), while Michelle McNamee had seven kills and five digs. Kryta Freitas recorded 18 digs for the Broncs.
HBU hit .286 for the match and held UTPA to .036 and also held a 52-43 advantage in digs.
The first set was close early as the teams were tied, 10-10. HBU lead 15-14, then scored six-straight points to take command at 21-14. The Huskies went on to take the frame, 25-19. Gaffney had five kills to lead the Huskies in the set, while McNamee had four for the Broncs.
UTPA led 6-5 in the second, but Wenger had three kills and Casey two during a six point-run that put HBU ahead, 11-6. The Broncs scored twice, the Huskies answered with the next five as they extended their lead to 16-8. HBU led by as many as 12, getting to set point at 24-12, but UTPA fought off three set points before falling, 25-15. Casey led HBU with five kills, and Kliefoth had five for UTPA.
HBU led 11-9 in the third, but exploded by scoring six in a row and also scored the last five points of the match to outscore UTPA, 14-2, over the last 16 points and take the set, 25-11. Wenger, Leaverton and Keith each had four kills, while freshman outside hitter
Haley Mueller's two kills on the day were the last two of the match for the Huskies. Kliefoth had three kills for the Broncs.
The Huskies return to action when they travel to face conference-leading Utah Valley Thursday at 8 p.m. in Orem Utah.
