PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Sophomore
Bailey Banks and junior
Jessica Wooten fueled the HBU volleyball team to their fourth consecutive victory in straight sets, downing Prairie View A&M 3-0 (25-18, 27-25, 25-18) on Tuesday night inside William J. Nicks Arena.
"Our two outsides tonight in
Bailey Banks and
Jessica Wooten were phenomenal," head coach
Trent Herman said. "I have to give it to Prairie View. They are a much improved team with a bunch of young kids, so they will only get better. Banks and Wooten really stepped up, along with
Kayla Armer, who did a good job of putting them in positions to attack, and we were able to come away with a three-set win."
Banks devastated the Panther (0-5) defense with her attack, landing a career-high 19 kills, while Wooten recorded her first double-double of the season with 14 digs and 14 kills, both season-highs. Junior setter
Kayla Armer also had an efficient night, amassing 37 assists, as the 12 consecutive set victories to open the season marks the best start in program history, surpassing the 2004 squad (11 straight).
The Huskies (4-0) swung a .351 clip across three sets opposite Prairie View at .074. HBU's presence at the net was also felt on the defensive side of the ball, combining for seven total blocks.
The first two sets were heavily contested with both teams pulling even on 17 separate occasions. However, the tandem of Banks and Wooten combined for 20 kills to give HBU a 2-0 advantage with 25-18 and 27-25 victories.
In the third set, the Huskies turned in a match-high .382 attack percentage to complete the sweep 25-18, again lead by Banks with eight kills and a nine-dig, five-kill performance from Wooten.
HBU will be back in action on Friday, facing host Northern Arizona in an 8 p.m. match at the Lumberjack Classic in Flagstaff. The Huskies will also play participating teams Loyola Marymount (12 p.m.) and Liberty (7 p.m.) on Saturday.
