By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

BELTON, Texas -- Led by 12 kills from Sarah Paolini, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor downed visiting Willamette University, 3-0, in the final match of the UMHB Volleyball Invitational in Belton, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 5. The Crusaders recorded 42 kills and hit .340 for the match. UMH won, 25-14, 25-20, 25-13.

Willamette fell to 2-2 overall. Mary Hardin-Baylor, which received votes in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), but was not ranked in the Top 25, improved to 3-1 on the season.

Peyton Wahl (So., LIB/DS, Richland, WA/Richland HS) of Willamette led all players with 27 digs. She also recorded two servicing aces for the Bearcats. Outside hitter Sarah Fincher (Sr., Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) topped WU with seven kills.

Kaylen Higa (Fr., DS/LIB, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) contributed 14 digs, while Alexa Becker (Sr., OH, El Dorado Hills, CA/Oak Ridge HS) added 10 digs.

Paolini was the only player on either team with double-digit kills. Natasha Evans and Shelby Russell from UMHB each concluded the match with eight kills. Shelby Prather registered 27 assists and 11 digs for the Crusaders. Abby Voskull produced 20 digs and Evans earned 15 digs.

Cheyenne Dowdey provided six kills and a match-high five block assists for Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Crusaders achieved 7.0 team total blocks.

The Bearcats finished with 8.0 team total blocks. Taylor Lum (Jr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) led WU with one block solo and three block assists.

Willamette will return to action on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational in Thousand Oaks, California. The tournament will be hosted by California Lutheran University.