HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Houston Christian volleyball returns to action this weekend at the Sam Houston Tournament following a strong showing at the Louisiana Tech Tournament, where the Huskies went 3–0 with wins over ULM, Jackson State, and Louisiana Tech.
COMMERCE, Texas – The volleyball team heads into Southland Conference play this week with two crucial road contests, beginning Thursday against East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas, followed by a Saturday matchup at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana. These back-to-back SLC contests mark a pivotal stretch for the Huskies as they look to gain early momentum in conference play.
Houston Christian (5-8) enters the first matchup with a 5-8 overall record after competing in the Sam Houston Tournament in Huntsville. The Huskies faced tough competition, falling in close battles to Sam Houston (2-3), ULM (1-3), and Georgia State (0-3). Despite the losses, HCU gained valuable experience against high-level teams, which will be critical as they face conference opponents with varied playing styles and strengths.
East Texas A&M (2-9) comes into the matchup with a 2-9 overall record but is battle-tested, having recently competed in the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa. The Lions fell to Iowa (1-3), narrowly defeated Lindenwood (3-2), and captured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Abilene Christian on Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. ETAM's lineup is led by senior outside hitter Gracie Campbell, who has tallied 143 kills and 10 service aces, while setter Haley Mullaney has orchestrated the offense with 178 assists. Defensive standouts like Jade Washington, who has 243 digs, provide stability in the back row, and the team's 61 total blocks highlight their presence at the net.
HCU boasts a balanced attack and strong leadership on both offense and defense.
Allana Archie leads the Huskies with 104 kills and 34 blocks, while
Hannah Redrow (82 kills, 19 blocks) and
Katy Barger (75 kills) provide additional scoring power. Setter
Peyton Fadal has dished out 301 assists this season, directing the Huskies' offense effectively. On the defensive side,
Bianca Byerly has contributed 146 digs and leads the team with 17 service aces, with
Anna Melgren (112 digs) and
Savanna Stevens (71 digs) providing strong floor coverage. Houston Christian averages 1.6 blocks per set, underscoring their ability to challenge opponents at the net.
