EDINBURG, TX – HCU falls to UTRGV in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Competition in four sets (25-21, 24-26, 23-25, 22-25). The Huskies closed out the 2022 season with a 23-11 record along with several Southland Conference individual and team accolades. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in Sept. 2022.

HCU (23-11) were led by freshman outside hitter Shelby O'Neal with 17 kills, eight digs, and a block while sophomore outside hitter Sara Arroyo added 12 kills and a dig. Sophomore middle blocker Audrey Pearce recorded 11 kills, four blocks, and three digs and senior outside hitter Anna Gadway added 11 kills, four digs, and two blocks. Redshirt freshman setter Grace McLaughlin recorded a double-double dishing out 49 assists along with 15 digs and added two kills. The Huskies were led defensively by senior libero Kaley Feris recording 25 digs while sophomore outside hitter Alexia Jones added 12 to the back line.

UTRGV (26-6) were led by Claudia Lupescu with a double-double of 20 kills, 10 digs, and 4 blocks for the Vaqueros. Luisa Silva Dos Santos recorded 17 kills, four blocks, and two digs while Luanna Emiliano dished out 49 assists along with 16 digs, two kills, and a block. Perris Key lead the Vaqueros defensively with 16 digs while Regina Tijerina added 12 digs to the back line.

UTRGV outhit HCU .243% to .192%, but the Huskies led in attacks, 182-177, digs, 82-76, and aces, 3-2.

HCU went on a four-point run in the first set to break the tie at 9-9 to 13-9 thanks to back-to-back kills by Audrey Pearce, and never looked back as they claimed the first set 25-21.

In a tightly contested second set it looked like the Vaqueros were going to pull away at the end taking a 24-22 lead before back-to-back kills by Sara Arroyo tied the game 24-24. UTRGV claimed the second set, 26-24, after back-to-back kills by Luisa Silva Dos Santos.

In the third, HCU got off to a hot start taking a 3-0 lead thanks to a kill and a block by Audrey Pearce. The Vaqueros went on an 8-point run to take a 14-9 lead and continued their good play to claim a 19-13 lead before The Huskies fought back to get within two points at 20-22 before UTRGV claimed the third set 25-23.

After HCU scored the opening two points in the fourth, UTRGV responded to tie the game at 5-5. The Huskies never got the lead back but made a late run to tie the game at 22-22 thanks to back-to-back blocks by Jada Allen to force a UTRGV timeout. The Vaqueros claimed the final three points to finish the match with a 25-22 victory in the fourth set.

UTRGV will face South Dakota State, who defeated Louisiana 3-2, in the second round Saturday at 2pm CST.