SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College volleyball team got the season off to a strong start on Friday evening in Hughey Gym, besting both Lyon and Sul Ross by scores of 3-0 to end the first day of competition in 2023 with a 2-0 record.

In the first match of the day against Lyon, the 'Roos took a 25-20 opening set win and cruised to 25-17 and 25-13 victories in sets two and three to complete the sweep. Austin College jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the final set and coasted to victory from there. The 'Roos used a balanced attack, paced by nine kills from Samantha Graham and five apiece from Rita Araya and Riley Abernethy. Araya added four block assists, while Graham had three and Abernethy added six digs. Brianne Tseng and Madison Manning each had 12 assists to lead the 'Roos, with Manning also coming away with 10 digs. Alyssa Holloway finished the match with a team-high 12 digs.

Against Sul Ross, the 'Roos battled to a 25-22 win in the first set and took set two 25-21, before pulling away in the final set for a 25-18 victory to make it a 3-0 final. Abernethy had 12 kills to lead Austin College, adding six digs in the win, and Victoria Smith chipped in nine kills with a .389 hitting percentage. Abernethy had just two attacking errors on her way to a .417 hitting percentage, and the 'Roos also got six kills from Araya. Holloway once again led the 'Roos in digs with 11, and Tseng finished the match with 22 assists while Manning added 16.

The 'Roos are back in action on Saturday when they host Champion Christian and Paul Quinn College at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.