• story by Travis Hendryx • photos by Paul Slocumb •
Sul Ross volleyball defeated visiting Hardin-Simmons in a five-set, see-saw contest Saturday at the Gallego Center.
The Cowgirls edged the Lady Lobos in a 28-26 decision in the opening game before Sully recovered with a 25-23 victory in set two.
The visitors claimed a 25-21 win in game three before the Lady Lobos pounced with 25-15 and 15-13 victories.
In Saturday’s second set, Sul Ross jumped out to a 7-3 lead which was capped by a Cowgirl attack error.
Hardin-Simmons suffered several offensive miscues throughout game two as Sully would hold a pair of six-point leads.
A kill by freshman Annika Canaba put the game at set-point before another hitting error spelled the Cowgirls’ demise as the Lady Lobos posted the 25-23 win and tied the match at 1-1.
Sul Ross bolted out with an 8-2 lead in set four that was finished off by a Hardin-Simmons attack error.
Another spike by Canaba put the home squad ahead by seven at the 16-9 mark.
The Lady Lobos then mounted a 5-1 run ending on a kill by Isabella Ruiz for a 19-10 Sul Ross lead.
Sully finished off the Cowgirls with a triple-kill assault by Canaba, Marina Gonzales and Autumn Kilpatrick for the 25-15 victory heading to the closing set.
In game five, Sul Ross took a 2-0 lead off a pair of opponent attack errors.
The Cowgirls then took a brief lead before a kill by Marlo Salazar tied the game at six.
The two teams swapped leads for the rest of the game before a kill by Jordan Scherer broke a 12-12 tie.
A kill by the Cowgirls’ Morgan Prince pulled Hardin-Simmons to within one, trailing 14-13.
Canaba then laid down the match-winning spike off an assist by Kylee Davis for the 15-13 game win.
Canaba sported a triple double 20 kills, 19 assists and 14 digs.
Davis supplied 18 assists in Saturday’s victory while Karigan Edwards led defenders with 21 digs.
Ruiz and Davis posted 14 and 10 digs respectively.
The Lady Lobos improve to 2-5 on the season and bump their ASC mark to 1-2. Hardin-Simmons drops to 8-3 and 1-2.
Sul Ross will take on East Texas Baptist University next Friday as the Lady Lobos host the two-day ASC Crossover tournament.