HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies battled Southland leader, SLU, but couldn't hold off the Lady Lions falling in four sets (23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 22-25).

After falling the first point in the opening set, the Huskies tallied three straight points ending with a kill by Audrey Pearce to take an early, 3-1, lead. After SLU tied it at 3-3, HCU grabbed five of the next six points ending with another Pearce kill to take a, 8-4, lead. In a back-and-forth middle to the first set, the Huskies scored on back-to-back kills by Lexie Temple and Alexia Jones to take a, 13-10, lead before the Lady Lions scored two straight points to get within one point. The Huskies tied their largest lead of the set at, 20-16, off two straight kills by Sara Arroyo before SLU fired back with a seven-point run to take a, 23-20, lead. HCU scored three of the next four points to get within one point but couldn't hold off the Lady Lions, taking the opening set 25-23.

SLU grabbed a quick, 2-0, lead in the second set before the Huskies tied the set, 3-3, with an ace from Jaleesa Caroccio. The Lady Lions captured their largest lead of the set at 9-6 before the Huskies rallied five straight points capped off with an ace by Jones to take an, 11-9, lead. HCU held the lead until a three-point run by SLU gave the Lady Lions a two-point lead at 17-15. The Huskies retook the lead at 22-21 off back-to-back kills by Anna Gadway. HCU closed out the second set, 25-23, off a kill by Cassidy Drapela.

The Huskies opened the third set with two kills by Gadway before SLU tallied three straight points to take an early, 5-3, lead. The Lady Lions would extend their lead to four points at 10-6 before back-to-back kills by Gadway got the Huskies within two points at 10-8. SLU extended their lead to six points at 16-10, but the Huskies answered with three straight points to get within three points. With a five-point deficit at 22-17, the Huskies rallied back scoring five of the next seven points to get within two points at set point, 24-22 but a kill by Cicily Hidalgo ended the third set at 25-22 in favor of SLU.

In the decisive fourth set, Southeastern claimed a three-point lead at 6-3 off a four-point run before the Huskies tied the game at 8-8. SLU answered with four-straight points before HCU tied the game at 13-13 off a kill by Pearce. The Huskies grabbed their first lead of the fourth set off an ace by Pearce at 16-15 and increased their lead to three-points at 21-18 off a kill by Jones. A three-point run by the Lady Lions tied the game at 21-21 and a four-point run sealed the match for SLU claiming the decisive set, 25-22.

The Huskies were led by Gadway recording a season-high 17 kills while Pearce added 12 kills. Mollee Henicke recorded her first double-double of the season dishing out a career-high 48 assists along with 10 digs replacing injured setter Grace McLaughlin. Kaley Feris led the Huskies defensively with 19 digs while Jones added 14 digs.

SLU was led by Kailin Newsome with 21 kills and Rachel Hartmann added 19 kills to the Lady Lion offense. Gracie Duplechein tallied 55 assists and 12 digs while Ainsley Tullis led SLU's back line with 20 digs.

The Huskies will travel to San Antonio to clash against UIW on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the McDermott Center. Live broadcast available on ESPN+!