NEW ORLEANS – HCU claimed its first-ever Southland Conference regular-season title by sweeping New Orleans, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-15), in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon in Lakefront Arena. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in Sept. 2022.
 
HCU (22-9, 14-4 SLC) was led by redshirt freshman outside hitter Shelby O'Neal, who recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Junior outside hitter Sara Arroyo also had 10 kills and senior right side Anna Gadway had six kills and five digs. Sophomore middle blocker Audrey Pearce added five kills and three blocks. Redshirt freshman setter Grace McLaughlin had 30 assists and nine digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Alexia Jones led the Huskies with 14 digs and freshman defensive specialist Hazel Allen and senior libero Kaley Feris added five each.
 
Trinity Jackson had 10 kills and 11 digs for New Orleans (15-15, 9-9). Kristi Gomez added eight kills and four digs while Mauri Carver had six kills, three blocks, and a dig. Kamryn Scroggins had 14 assists while Claire Turner added 13 assists and Sheilah Purcell had 17 digs.


The Huskies fell behind, 18-11, in the first set, but roared back by scoring nine of the next 10 points and went on to a 25-23 victory. Leading 16-15 in the second, HCU ripped off five-straight points to take control and go up two set to none. The third set was all HCU, as the Huskies were able to jump out to a 15-8 lead and put away the Privateers for the title.  
 
The Huskies' 22 wins are the most during head coach Trent Herman's 12 seasons as they clinched the top seed and a bye to the semfinals in next week's Southland Conference Tournament in Hammond, Louisiana.