DENTON, TX- CCU closed play at the Denton Volleyfest on Saturday with a morning matchup against Arkansas Fort Smith. The team continued their winning ways, playing strong cohesive volleyball for a 3-1 victory to close the tournament 3-1 and send their overall record to 5-3. 

The offense found their groove right away as Suzanna Conner put down a pair of kills and Abby Breeding put one down for a 4-0 lead. Renee Phillips got in on the action with a kill for a 16-11 advantage, but the Lions climbed their way back to a 23-23 tie. An attack error gave CCU set point, and Phillips notched another kill to put away the set 25-23. 

Arkansas Fort-Smith came out strong in the second set, claiming a quick 7-2 lead. Consecutive kills from Conner saw the Cougars go ahead 14-13, and later kills from Savannah Overson and Breeding made it 18-15 CCU. A long run from UAFS sent them ahead 21-18, and the Lions closed the set out 25-23. 

With the match tied at one set apiece, an Izzy Jones kill and Conner ace put the Cougars in front 4-1. A Megan McNitt kill broke a tie for a 13-12 lead, but the Lions fought back to take a 20-18 lead. The Cougars were determined to claim the set, and they proceeded to rip off seven straight points led by a Lilly Woods kill and ace from Jones to close out the set in impressive fashion 25-20. 

With the victory in sight, CCU started hot with a six point run that was closed with an emphatic Breeding and Phillips block for the 7-2 lead. Shelby Hernandez picked up an ace for a 15-7 lead as the Cougars asserted their dominance, and a Phillips kill sent CCU ahead 22-10. A pair of Woods kills sandwiched by a Lions attack error closed out the match as the Cougars won the fourth set convincingly 25-11 to claim the victory. 

Conner led the offense with 14 kills, while Breeding had 12 followed by Phillips with 11. Woods was excellent with six blocks, while Jones facilitated well as always with 43 assists. Hernandez notched 24 digs followed by Conner with 17 and Breeding with 16. 

Breeding was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Denton Volleyfest for her incredible efforts throughout the tournament that included 51 kills and 54 digs to help her team go 3-1 over the weekend. 

The Cougars now return home for the start of RMAC play as they host MSU Denver on September 20 at 3 p.m. MST.