Rams sweep Louisiana Christian for first win of 2025

WAXAHACHIE, Texas – Huston-Tillotson University's volleyball team wrapped up season-opening play at the Texas Two Step Classic with a three-set sweep Saturday of Louisiana Christian.
 
At Nelson University's Sheaffer Full Life Center, the Rams defeated their former Red River Athletic Conference rival by scores of 26-24, 25-19, and 25-20.
 
Freshman hitter Malaya Bennett (Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson) led the Rams (1-3) to victory with a double-double performance, knocking down 10 kills and tallying 12 digs in the match. Bennett also hit .242 in 33 attempts.
 
Hayley Broussard (West Columbia, Texas/Columbia) and Lindsey Morris (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley) added nine kills for the Rams, who had little time to regroup for their 6 p.m. match with LCU after also playing against Rochester Christian (Mich.) in a match that started at 4 p.m.
 
HT senior Chloe Gaytan (San Antonio, Texas/Veterans Memorial) led the defense with 14 digs, while Imany Gilmore (Las Vegas, Nev./Grambling State) added 11 digs to her team-high 16 assists. Freshman setter Jordis Taylor (Vancouver, Wash./Heritage) contributed 14 assists and was in on a team-high seven blocks (six assisted).
 
Six straight LCU points gave the Wildcats their largest lead of set one at 10-6, but the Rams responded with three points of their own thanks to two kills from Bennett and a service ace by Taylor Fisher (Del Valle, Texas/Henderson State). The teams stayed within three points of each other the rest of the set, with the Rams breaking a 24-24 tie thanks to a service error and another kill from Bennett.
 
The Rams jumped to leads of 3-0 and 8-3 in set two and never trailed en route to their six-point victory. Bennett and Morris each had two kills during a 5-0 HT run that gave the Rams a 24-17 lead and firm control of the set.
 
Set three was another close encounter that saw the Rams finally pull away with four of the last five points to claim the match sweep. During that final push, the Rams got kills from Broussard and Gaytan, as well as a big assisted block from Taylor and Mackenzie Turner (Fort Worth, Texas/Dunbar).
 
Saturday's first match saw Rochester Christian, an NAIA member institution that competes in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, defeat the Rams in straight sets. The Warriors won that match by scores of 25-8, 25-8, and 25-18.
 
Morris' four kills led the Rams' offense against RCU, while Fisher led the HT defense with 10 digs.
 
The Rams return to action Thursday, Sept. 4, when they open their inaugural Rams Fall Volleyball Classic with a 6 p.m. match against another former RRAC rival, the Gold Nuggets of Xavier (La.).
 
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