IRVING, Texas -- The UDallas volleyball team opened day one of the Crusader Classic with a hard-fought battle against Rhodes College, ultimately falling 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 17-25, 25-13).

The Crusaders showed resilience throughout the match, highlighted by a dominant third set where they held Rhodes to a -.107 hitting percentage while posting a .240 mark of their own. UD tallied 34 kills in the match and kept the defense active with 51 digs, fighting to stay within striking distance of the Lynx.

Ja'Niyah Boudreaux led the Crusaders with a standout performance, recording 14 kills, four blocks, and an ace. Mary Mehan added nine kills and four blocks, while Grace Achilles contributed five kills, an ace, and solid defensive play at the net. Syraia Harvey paced the offense with 13 assists and chipped in seven digs, and Breana Timms anchored the back row with 13 digs. Despite the setback, the Crusaders carried energy and grit into the second match of the day.

To close out against Millsaps Isabelle Salazar directed the attack with 11 assists and added a service ace, while Sydney Harvey provided balance with seven assists, two kills, and nine digs. Freshman standout Lillian Torres made her presence felt at the net with five kills, two blocks, and 6.5 points, and Ally Zavaleta-Vega was efficient with six kills on a .400 hitting percentage. Strong defensive efforts also came from Breana Timms, who tallied 19 digs, and Isabella Woodley, who chipped in nine digs and a steady presence in the back row.

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Crusader Classic Day Two, 1PM & 3PM at Ed Maher Center. Crusaders face New England College and Arcadia University