MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Austin College volleyball team split its first two matches of the Rhodes College Classic on Friday, cruising past Bethel (Tenn.) 3-0 before battling Mary Hardin-Baylor but coming up short in a 3-2 loss, their first of the season. The 'Roos are now 5-1 overall.

The 'Roos opened up their weekend on the road with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-20 win over Bethel, with Riley Abernethy notching seven kills and five digs to lead the way. Abernethy finished the match with a blistering .583 hitting percentage, and the team hit .258 overall in the victory. Jaiden Tocquigny had 12 service aces in the victory, as the 'Roos finished with 20 service aces overall as a team. Brianne Tseng had eight assists, and Olivia Linton had five aces.

Austin College dropped its first set against UMHB 25-19, but bounced back to even things up with a decisive 25-13 second set victory. A 26-24 win in the third set put Austin College ahead 2-1, but the Crusaders forced a fifth set after taking set four 25-22, and the 'Roos would fall 15-13 in the final set of the match. Linton and Victoria Smith each had 14 kills to pace the 'Roos, with Abernethy adding 12 to go along with 18 digs. Tseng led the 'Roos with 26 assists and chipped in 10 digs, while Madison Manning added 15 assists. Laynie Kovacs had the best statistical match of her young career in the defeat, leading Austin College with 36 digs.