BELTON, Texas – On the first day of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Invitational, volleyball was handed a pair of tough losses first falling to Susquehanna University before dropping a 3-1 contest to the University of Texas at Tyler Friday afternoon in Mayborn Campus Center.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 0, Susquehanna University 3
UMass Boston 1, University of Texas at Tyler 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

In their first match of the new season, the Beacons came out and played a very strong first set against the Crusaders.  Service errors, which plagued the Beacons for most of the afternoon proved to be the deciding factor in the end in the opening frame.  Susquehanna would take the very close set 28-26.  The momentum from that set would carry over as they down the Beacons 25-13 in the second and 25-19 in the third.

All-American Eileen Shi (San Francisco, Calif.) carried the Beacons offense with 10 kills, while setters Rachel Maslach (Berlin Center, Ohio), and Christina Elliott (Camas, Wash.) combined 31 assists respectively.  Defensively Macaylo Chianco (Clearwater, Fla.) tallied 14 digs, while at the net Division I transfer Emilia Czapiewska (Saint Paul, Minn.) finished with two block assists and one solo block.

Against UT-Tyler, the Beacons once again fell into an early hole, but this time managed to battle back in the third set thanks to a huge double timeout rally.  Trailing by four (8-4) head coach Michael Houlihan took a huge chance by calling both of his timeouts in succession. 

Coach Houlihan's plan would work in the end as the Beacons went on their best run of the young season outscoring UTT 15-3 to take a commanding 20-11 lead.  UTT would counter with a small run of their own to make it 22-18.  The Beacons would finish off their opponent thanks to a pair of kills by Shi and a UTT ball handling error to close out the third frame.  Unfortunately, UTT would battle back in the fourth and secured the win with a 25-18 victory.

Shi once again led UMB with her 16 kills to go along with seven digs.  Chianco had 11 digs and four aces, while Sarah Doyle (Glendale, Calif.) finished with three block assists.

BY THE NUMBERS

• All-time UMass Boston is now 0-2 against Susquehanna University and 0-1 against UT-Tyler
• Friday's contest marked the first two matches for now lone head coach Mike Houlihan; Houlihan served as co-head coach for the last three seasons alongside AVCA Hall of Famer Terry Condon
• Shi closed out the match with Susquehanna University hit .353
• In total UMB struggled from the end-line totaling 29 service errors

WHO'S NEXT

The Beacons will close out the tournament tomorrow with matches against Hardin Simmons at 11 a.m. EST and against Mary Hardin Baylor at 1 p.m. EST.