Conway, Ark. - After an extended stretch on the road to start the 2024 season, Hendrix opened up its home account with the Hendrix Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches against Rhodes and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB).

Rhodes (L, 3-0)
The Warriors suffered a straight-set defeat to Rhodes to begin conference play in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).

Hendrix dropped the first set 25-20, but looked to be in position to take the second set after going up 24-21 after a Perri Evans kill. However, Rhodes successfully fended off set point three times and eventually took the set 28-26. They would clinch the victory in the third set with a 25-20 win.

Evans and Ana Bastos led the Warriors with 9 kills each. Riley Brady and Rachel Pearce recorded 2 blocks apiece.

UMHB (L, 3-2)
Coming off one of their more disappointing performances of their season to date, Hendrix responded to take UMHB the distance before dropping the fifth set 16-14. UMHB entered the match 14-1 on the year and had already defeated the Warriors in straight-sets earlier in the season, but it was the home side who took the early advantage with a 25-23 first set.

The Crusaders responded to take the second set 25-20, but Hendrix roared back with a commanding 25-17 win in the third set. The Warriors held a 17-13 lead in the fourth set as they looked to clinch the match, but UMHB was able to come back and extend the match with a 25-21 fourth set win.

The away side jumped out on top of Hendrix with three consecutive points to open the final set and led 6-3 before Hendrix went on a 5-1 run before the two teams switched sides at the halfway point. UMHB set up a match point opportunity at 14-13, but Perri Evans' kill kept the Warriors alive. The Crusaders would take the next two points to clinch the victory.

Bastos was electric offensively from the outset as she recorded a match-high 18 kills. Evans backed that up with 12 kills, with Riley Brady just behind her with 11.

Brady and Eliana Oden each had two service aces.