Conway, Ark. - Hendrix wrapped up the 2024 regular season on Saturday with a pair of nonconference matches with LeTourneau and East Texas Baptist (ETBU). The Warriors rallied to defeat LeTourneau 3-2 and took the 12th-ranked Tigers the distance before falling in the fifth set.
Match 1 vs LeTourneau
Hendrix opened up a busy Saturday of volleyball at the Grove with a five-set thriller versus the LeTourneau, rallying back from a 2-1 set deficit to defeat the Yellowjackets.
Both sides of the net battled for the first set, but LeTourneau took the victory at 26-24, with a total of 11 kills and 3 aces. Hendrix fiercely returned in the second set and won 25-22. Their .262 successful attack percentage was the defining factor that led to the win.
During the third set, the Warriors scrapped to catch up to LeTourneau with 3 kills from Riley Brady, 2 kills from Catalina Williams, and an ace from Adilynn Henry, but ultimately fell 25-14. The visiting team then kickstarted the 4th set with a run of 4-0 before Hendrix brought the heat with a kill from Perri Evans and a block from Catalina Williams. Hendrix utilized their roster of 21 players and switched up the offense with appearances from Rachel Pearce on the right side, who contributed 2 kills and a block, and Ava Burns on the outside, boosting the score with 2 kills and a block. Lily Meyer served 2 aces and Hendrix took the 4th set 25-20.
The final set of the match began with explosive energy from Hendrix volleyball in every category; kills from Riley Brady and Perri Evans, blocks from Catalina Williams, 2 more aces from Adilynn Henry, and outstanding defense from Lauren Rothe and Mary Addisyn Stubbs. The Warriors secured the win 15-7.
Leading in kills for Hendrix were Riley Brady with 15, Perri Evans with 14, and Camryn Kennedy with 12 for a total of 65 team kills. Hendrix recorded 90 digs, 29 of which were from libero Mary Addisyn Stubbs.
Match 2 vs ETBU
Hendrix showed the same grit from the LeTourneau match to take the first set against ETBU with a score of 25-22. Rachel Pearce secured the last point with a block assisted by Hailey Gripka. Perri Evans had 4 kills, hitting a phenomenal .667 attack percentage in just one set.
The Warriors found themselves down 10-17 after a 4-point serving run from ETBU. Several aces later, the visiting team took the second set 25-14
Ava Burns started the third set off with an impressive stuff block. ETBU held the upper hand of the score until Ana Bastos broke the tie with a block to reach 15-14. ETBU's hitting percentage of .204 was significantly higher than Hendrix's .113, which led to their victory at 25-21.
Explosive offense from Bastos, Catalina Williams, and Pearce kept the score in the Warrior's favor in the first portion of the fourth set. Hendrix also dominated in energy and aggression, and this continued Hendrix's upper hand score throughout the set. An ace from Mary Addisyn Stubbs brought the score to 21-16. Another ace from Riley Brady moved the team to 23-18. Hendrix's attacking percentage of .297 carried them to securing the fourth set. Bastos scored the final point with a block, ending 25-18. Evans had 5 kills, and Brady gave 4.
For the second time today, Hendrix battled to a fifth set, showing their improved resistance as a team. The Warriors continued to put up a wall of a block, with 1 block each from Brady, Williams, Evans, and Pearce. However, the Warriors were unable to pull the victory and fell to ETBU 11-15.
Leading in kills for Hendrix was Evans with 13, Brady with 12 and the highest attacking percentage of .435, and Burns with 9 kills. Brady also contributed a total of19 points to the match. Pearce recorded 4.5 blocks.
Hendrix now enters postseason play as the #6 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) tournament, and they will take on third-seeded Millsaps next Friday at Alumni Gym in Danville, Ky.
