SHERMAN, Texas - The Hendrix College volleyball team split a pair of matches to open the Austin College Classic on Friday. The Warriors (5-2) started the day with a 25-11, 25-22, 25-10 sweep of Howard Payne University, then lost to the University of Texas at Dallas 25-23, 25-20, 20-25, 30-28 in the nightcap.

Hendrix had little trouble with the Lady Jackets (0-2) in the opener. The Orange & Black hit .281 with 40 kills, four aces, 46 digs and 11 blocks, while HPU hit -.021 with 21 kills, two aces, 37 digs and three blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter MC Rogers led the Warrior attack with 14 kills to go with 10 digs. Freshman outside Bradi Ryan added 12 kills. At the net, sophomore middle blocker Grace Griffin came up with seven total blocks. Sophomore setter Allison Gaia had 28 assists and eight digs and senior libero Ella Concavage-Nasar added eight digs.

Breanne Cathey led the Lady Jackets with five kills. Shelby Bridges had 13 digs.

Against the Comets (4-2), Hendrix trailed 23-17 in the first set before going on a 5-0 run, led by sophomore Katie Beard's serving, to make the game 23-22. UTD took two of the last three points to win the first frame.

UT Dallas took a 2-0 lead with 25-20 victory in the second set, but Hendrix rebounded to win the third 25-20.

The Comets, who were receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fourth set, but the Warriors rallied to go ahead 9-7, capped by back-to-back kills from sophomore right side Natalie Masten.

After trading points, Hendrix gained a 20-18 lead, but rattled off four straight to go up 22-20. The Comets served for match point at 24-22, but Rogers kept the Warriors in the game with a kill. Both teams exchanged ties and advantages until Hendrix went up 28-27 on a Felicia Beeman ace. UTD ended the match with three straight kills from Michelle Toro for the 30-28 victory.

For the match, the Warriors hit .200 with 62 kills, four aces, 93 digs and 9.5 blocks. The Comets hit .205 with 58 kills, seven aces, 71 digs and 10 blocks.

Rogers went off for a career-best 25 kills to go with 20 digs. Ryan added a season-high 17 kills and had five blocks. Masten connected on 12 kills without making an error. Sophomore middle Samantha Stockdale also had five blocks and Gaia recorded 36 assists and 10 digs. Beeman led Hendrix with 22 digs and Concavage-Nasar had 15.

Meredith Crawford led the Comets with 18 kills to go with 15 digs. Toro had 13 kills and six blocks and Holyn Handley added 11 kills. Kayla Jordan had 48 assists and 11 digs and Bethany Werner had 19 digs.

Hendrix will finish the AC Classic on Saturday when they face LeTourneau University at 11 a.m. and the University of Texas at Tyler at 3 p.m.