HOUSTON – After battling through the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament, HBU fell behind 0-2 in its fourth match of the day, then dropped the first set in each of the three remaining matches, before rallying in all of them to claim the Southland Showcase Title with a 3-2 victory over New Orleans Sunday afternoon at Third Coast Volleyball Club.
The Huskies forced a winner-take-all by defeating UNO, 3-0, but appeared to have run out of gas when sophomore
Danielle Wheeler and freshman
Mikayla Vivens were downed by Maxine Walsh and Ally Carr at five, 21-14, 21-16, and senior
Kali Fluke and
Brennan Miller fell to Kaitlyn Grice and Jordan Schumacher at four, 17-21, 21-7, 15-8.
Each of the Huskies' top three pairs dropped the first set, but senior
Bailey Banks and freshman
Katya Silveira posted a 21-23, 21-14, 15-4 victory over Blessing Dunn and Brianna Vega at three and senior
Kayla Armer and sophomore
Tori Hinojosa tied the match at 2-2, outlasting Cara Sander and Veronica Corcoran, 19-21, 21-17, 15-11.
In the matchup of number ones, senior
Jessica Wooten and junior
Aeriel Horton sent their match against Victoria Corcoran and Rachel Kuhn to the decisive third set, just as Armer and Hinojosa wrapped up their comeback. The Huskies' tandem got off to a hot start, scoring the first five points of the set and taking a 10-1 lead. Wooten and Horton went on to clinch the championship with a 25-27, 21-16, 15-8 victory.
Freshmen
Meagan Carter and
Jordyn Miller won the exhibition match over Madison Miller and Rhyan Rand, 21-15, 21-18.
The Huskies started the morning with a 3-1 victory over Central Arkansas. Wheeler and Vivens held off Mac Dear and Shelby Holmes at five, 21-19, 12-21, 15-10 at five, but Fluke and
Brennan Miller dropped a 21-19, 23-21 decision to Delaney Driver and MC Rogers at four. Armer and Hinojosa then cruised past Jessica Martinez and Aly Brinkley at, 21-11, 21-18, then Wooten and Horton clinched the match with a 21-18, 21-17 victory over Haley Tippet and Megan Nash at one. Banks and Silveira did not finish their matchup at three with Kris Hjembo and Colene Hamilton.
HBU then made quick work of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a 3-0 victory. Wheeler and Vivens scored a straight-set win over Jenna Krenek and Naomi Overstreet at five, 21-14, 21-11, and Fluke and
Brennan Miller edged Kayla Walker and Maya Daukas at four, 23-21, 24-22. Armer and Hinojosa put the match away and sent the Huskies to the championship round with a 21-19, 21-10 victory over Madi Green and Rachel Young at two. Wooten and Horton were up a set against Selina Marolf and Abby Devito at one and Banks and Silveira were also up a set on Madi Fitzsimmons and Demi McInnis at three when the match was stopped. Carter and
Jordyn Miller dropped the exhibition match to Gabby Johnston and Chloe Simon, 21-19, 21-17.
The Huskies went 6-1 in the tournament to finish the regular season 17-15.
Sunday's Results
Championship Match #2: HBU 3, New Orleans 2
Championship Match #1: HBU 3, New Orleans 0
Semifinal: HBU 3, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
Consolation: Central Arkansas 5, Abilene Christian 0
Quarterfinal: HBU 3, Central Arkansas 1
