CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Hendrix defeated the University of the Ozarks 3-1 on Friday evening at Mabee Gymnasium in the 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener. The Warriors rebounded from a 25-21 opening-set loss with wins of 25-15, 25-12 and 26-24.
The Warriors achieved a season-high 58 kills in the match, hitting a blistering 0.323 while limiting Ozarks to just 0.180.
The Warriors answered a 13-12 Ozarks lead by winning seven of the next eight rallies, getting kills from
Amelia Don,
Addison Rud and
Riley Brady along with service aces from
Ana Bastos and
Emma Blancovich to move ahead 19-14. Ozarks responded with four straight Gabby Dotson service aces to tie the set at 19, then closed out the opening set 25-21.
Brady recorded a season-high 16 kills on the night to go along with 6 digs and 2 service aces. The Warriors broke open the second set with a six-point run that turned a 12-8 edge into an 18-8 lead. Brady served the final five points of that stretch, closing it with an ace after kills by
Alexis Mahan and Bastos. The Warriors finished the set 25-15.
A 7-0 run helped the Warriors build a 16-5 lead in the third set, with Bastos serving the final six points of the stretch. The run included Bastos ace, kills by Don and
Ava Burns, and three Burns kills overall. The Warriors closed the set with three straight block points and finished it 25-12.
The Warriors overcame a 15-12 deficit with five straight points, including a block by Don and Burns, a Don kill and consecutive Bastos service aces to move ahead 17-15. After Ozarks went in front 24-23, Bastos answered with back-to-back kills before Burns finished the fourth set from Blancovich's assist for a 26-24 Warriors win.
Brady led the Warriors with 16 kills, hit .609 and finished with 18.5 points. Rud achieved a season-high of 10 points. Bastos recorded 10 kills and 4 service aces and tallied 16 digs to finish the night with a double-double. Burns added 12 kills on a .550 hitting percentage and posted five blocks.
Reghan Frazzetta set a season-high with 21 assists and contributed five digs.
Up next, the Warriors host LeTourneau tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Conway at Grove Gymnasium.
