CONWAY, Ark - After winning four matches in Texas a week ago, the Warriors opened up its season at home with a match against Central Baptist College in the second of six matches as part of the 2018 Hendrix Warrior Classic. After a straight-set victory over the Mustangs, Hendrix improved to 5-0 on the season, the best start to the season in program history. The Warriors found themselves down two sets to none against Centenary. After winning the next two sets, Centenary ended up taking the fifth set 16-14 to give the Warriors its first loss of the season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Game 1
Final: Central Baptist College 0, Hendrix 3
Records: Mustangs 2-7 | Warriors 5-0
Location: Garrison Court | Conway, Ark.
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Game 2
Final: Centenary College 3, Hendrix 2
Records: Ladies 2-5 | Warriors 5-1
Location: Garrison Court | Conway, Ark.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Match 1
- After trailing 1-0 on the opening point, Hendrix went on a 8-2 run in the opening set of the match, highlighted by a powerful kill by freshman Claire Smith.
- Following a CBC kill and holding a 7-5 lead in the second set, the Warriors netted a quick 7-0 run to take a commanding 14-5 lead in the second set.
- Senior Amber Melcher recorded a team-best 17 assists for the match with Smith right behind her with 15.
- Hendrix recorded 59 total points compared to the Mustangs' 23.
- The Warriors have shut out four of its first five opponents on the season.
- As a collective unit, Hendrix registered more aces (10-1), blocks (5-1), assists (41-21) and digs (57-47) than CBC did.
Match 2
- After dropping the opening pair of sets to the Ladies, back-to-back-to-back assists from Smith helped the Warriors ease to a 3-0 lead in set three.
- Back-to-back kills by junior Lauren Dwyer helped the Orange & Black maintain a 12-5 cushion midway through the third set.
- A monster kill by Dwyer gave the Warriors the 25-23 set three win and eventually gave Hendrix a 25-21 set four victory.
- Three assists early in the fifth set by Claire once again gave Hendrix the early 4-0 advantage.
- Leading 11-6 in the fifth, the Ladies managed to go on a quick 6-0 run to take a 12-11 lead.
- A kill, a ball handling error and an attack error gave Centenary the five-set victory.
- Smith recorded a career-best 40 assists.
- Sophomore Jeanette McGrath registered a game-best 17 digs and Dwyer recorded 21 kills for the match.
UP NEXT
Hendrix remains inside Grove Gymnasium for the last day of the 2018 Hendrix Warrior Classic. The Warriors face the Ladies again at 2 p.m. before a final showdown against the Mustangs one last time at 4 p.m.
