CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Huskies capped off the season falling to Southeastern in four sets in the semifinals of the 2023 Southland Conference Championship at Dugan Wellness Center (17-25, 18-25, 25-18, 19-25).

The Huskies (19-13, 13-5 SLC) scored the first point of the opening set with an ace by Alexia Jones but the Lady Lions claimed six of the next eight points to grab an early, 6-3, lead. HCU narrowed the margin to one point at 7-6 before Southeastern jumped out to a 14-7 lead after a five-point run. Trailing by 10 points at 21-11, the Huskies tallied six of the next eight points including kills by Audrey Pearce, Sara Arroyo, and Anna Gadway to narrow the gap to six points at 23-17. The Lady Lions captured the opening set, 25-17, on back-to-back kills from conference leader, Kailin Newsome.

After a kill by Gadway to kick off the second set, Southeastern (27-4, 17-1 SLC) rallied with eight straight points to hold a, 8-1, lead. A kill by Cassidy Drapela stopped the run but a three-point run by the Lady Lions extended the lead to 10 points at 14-4. SLU maintained a 10 point lead at 18-8 before the Huskies stormed back with five straight points bookended with kills by Gadway to narrow the deficit to five points at 18-13. A solo block by Pearce held the margin at five points at 21-16 but a three point run by Southeastern extended the lead to eight points. After a kill by Pearce and a block by Lexie Temple, the Lady Lions closed out the second set with a kill by Cicily Hidalgo to take set two, 25-18.

With the season on the line, the Huskies came out firing in the third set claiming a 4-1 lead off a kill by Arroyo. After SLU tied the set at 4-4, HCU reclaimed a three-point lead at 8-5 with a solo block by Drapela. The Lady Lions tied the set at 8-8 before the Huskies extended the lead back to four points at 12-8 with a block by Gadway and Pearce. SLU narrowed the margin to two points at 13-11 before a five point run by the Huskies ending with an ace by Tatiana Evans increased the lead to seven points at 18-11. The Lady Lions fought to get within three points at 19-16 but a kill by Temple, a kill by Arroyo, and two kills by Gadway gave HCU the upper hand taking set three, 25-18.

In the decisive fourth set, the Lady Lions grabbed an early 5-2 lead before a kill by Gadway and a solo block by Temple got the Huskies within one point at 5-4. SLU extended the margin to five points at 12-7 but HCU rallied with four straight points starting with a kill by Arroyo and ending with a block by Arroyo and Temple. The Huskies tied the set at 14-14 on a three-point run including two kills by Arroyo but three straight points by Southeastern increased their lead back to three points at 18-15. The Lady Lions claimed their largest lead of the set at 23-17 before a block by Grace McLaughlin and Pearce followed by a kill from Arroyo narrowed the gap back to five points at 24-19. Southeastern advanced to the finals of the 2023 SLC Championship capturing the fourth set with a 25-19 victory.

The Huskies were led by Gadway with 13 kills while Arroyo added 10 kills. Grace McLaughlin recorded her 13^th double-double of the season dishing out 36 assists along with 17 digs. HCU's back line was led by Kaley Feris with 9 digs and Jaleesa Caroccio added seven digs.

SLU was led by Cicily Hidalgo with 18 kills and 15 digs. Kailin Newsome added 18 kills and 12 digs while Rachel Hartmann recorded 11 kills and 14 digs. Gracie Duplechein dished out 44 assists and the Lady Lions back line was led by Ansley Tullis with 16 digs.

The Huskies end the 2023 season with a 19-13 overall record and a .594% winning percentage including an 11-2 record in Sharp Gym. HCU finished the year with a 13-5 conference record and a .722% winning percentage including 11 conference matches resulting in the Huskies sweeping their opponent.