ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Auburn University at Montgomery volleyball team fell 3-1 to host Henderson State in the Reddie-Tiger Invitational on Friday evening in their second game of the day.
The Warhawks' short winning streak of two games comes to an end and fall to 6-4 on the year. Henderson State, meanwhile, improves to 9-2 on the year after a four-set win over the Warhawks.
Nyah Whittlesey and
Ylenia De Mango led the team in kills once again against the Reddies, recording 13 and 12 kills in the contest. Cabot, Arkansas native
Ashley Hudson earned the start for the Warhawks, her first time making the starting seven.
AUM was able to race out to an early lead in the first set and had leads of more than three more than once in the game's opening set. A De Mango ace ran the score to 5-1, but it was quickly erased as HSU tied the game at 6-6. Henderson State rallied to take a 14-11 lead over AUM, but the Warhawks were able to answer late in the set, taking a 21-20 lead. The Warhawks, however, would surrender five of the last six points to drop the opening set 25-22.
The second set saw a close game as Henderson State started with a 7-6 lead over AUM. With the one-point lead, the Reddies struck for eight of the next nine points to stretch their lead to 15-7. The big lead for Henderson State was never given up as the Reddies won set two 25-17.
The Warhawks flipped the switch in the third set, dominating the Reddies to stay in the contest one set longer. AUM jumped out to a 13-6 lead after an ace from
Mariane Cassiano. After Henderson State cut the lead to three, AUM rebounded by taking nine of the last 10 points to win the third set 25-14.
Set four saw the two programs trade the first 20 points of the set, resulting in a 10-10 tie early in the frame. Henderson State grabbed an opportunity to gain a lead over the Warhawks and jumped out to a 19-13 lead. The deficit proved too much for AUM, as they dropped the set 25-15 and the match 3-1.
AUM will wrap up the Reddie-Tiger Invitational tomorrow morning when they will cross the street to play Ouachita Baptist at 9 a.m., then concluding the tournament with a rematch with Henderson State at 11:30 a.m.
