Brownwood, Texas - The University of the Ozarks volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Howard Payne University Friday evening at Brownwood Coliseum. The Yellow Jackets won by set scores of 25-17, 25-22 and 25-6.
The Eagles battled throughout the opening two sets. Ozarks trailed 25-17 in the first set before putting together a stronger offensive performance in the second. The Eagles recorded 11 kills in the second set and hit .114, but Howard Payne answered with 14 kills and a .353 hitting percentage to take the set 25-22.
Howard Payne controlled the third set, posting 12 kills while limiting Ozarks to two kills. The Yellow Jackets hit .370 in the final set to close out the match.
Brooke Humphrey led the Eagles with seven kills, while Claire Zeiler added six kills and Caylie Apperson recorded four. Zeiler also led Ozarks defensively with 10 digs.
Samantha Barnes recorded two service aces and one block for the Eagles. Humphrey and Emerson Corbin each added one ace.
Jillian Childs and Gabby Dotson paced the Ozarks setting effort with five assists apiece, while Zeiler contributed three assists. Dotson finished with five digs, and Humphrey added six.
As a team, Ozarks recorded 19 kills, four aces, one block and 37 digs. Howard Payne finished with 32 kills, nine aces, five blocks and 45 digs.
Ozarks will face Howard Payne again Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and then take on Austin College at 1:00 p.m.
