Courtesy Hardin-Simmons University/Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Departments

SEGUIN, Texas — Hardin-Simmons’ volleyball team made an up-and-down season work out just fine on Saturday with a 17-30, 30-26, 30-24, 30-28 win over Texas-Dallas in the American Southwest Championship Tournament title game at Tostengard Activity Center.

The Cowgirls fell behind early in the first game and fell 30-17, but the young Cowgirls responded with a win in game two 30-26 and then scored seven straight points to erase an 11-7 deficit in game three and to take a 14-11 lead and eventually pulled away in the third game.

The fourth game was a back-and-forth affair that had 14 ties in the game. The Cowgirls scored the final two points of the game for the win and the first ASC Volleyball title in school history.

“We have a bunch of girls that just play with heart,” HSU head coach Hugh Hernesman said. “They battled after UT-Dallas controlled the first game. We settled down and I think some of the tough matches we have played earlier in the season paid off.”

Chelsea Buetow led the offense with 18 kills and Virginia Aguilar had 10 kills and hit .258 in the match. Holly Amerena led a solid defensive effort with a match-high 20 digs. Kaela Parnell contributed 14 kills, while freshman setter Amanda Curry delivered 45 assists and 11 digs.

Aguilar was named the conference tournament MVP. Amerena and Buetow also were named to the all-tournament team.

Texas-Dallas received 16 kills and 14 digs from Kyleigh Irish. Shelley Paull, an All-Tournament selection, added 11 kills and three block assists. Texas-Dallas had eight team blocks in the championship match.

The Comets were hurt by 11 ball-handling errors. Hardin-Simmons had just one ball-handling error.

Hardin-Simmons improved to 19-14 on the year and will play in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship for the first time. The pairings will be released on Monday at 10 a.m CST. Texas-Dallas closes its season with a 24-7 mark.

NOTE: All five matches of the tournament lasted four games.

Hardin-Simmons def. Texas-Dallas 17-30, 30-26, 30-24, 30-28
Texas-Dallas (24-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kyleigh Irish 16-3-3; Shelley Paull 11-0-3; Nealy Mincher 8-1-0; Patricia Allen 7-0-5; Krissy Seaman 7-0-2; Jessica Harpham 4-0-0; Brittany Fowler 3-1-3; Elaine Brown 3-0-0; Anna Aronovich 2-1-0; Kathryn Adams 0-1-0; Totals 61-7-8.0. (Assists) - Brittany Fowler 50. (Dig leaders) – Anna Aronovich 17; Kyleigh Irish 14; Kathryn Adams 13; Brittany Fowler 12
Hardin-Simmons (19-14) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Chelsea Buetow 18-1-1; Kaela Parnell 14-1-1; Virginia Aguilar 10-1-1; Megan Lawrence 7-0-1; VanessaVanlandingham 2-0-3; Amanda Curry 1-0-0; Sam Lucien 0-1-0; Amanda Mace 0-1-0; Totals 52-5-4.0. (Assists) - Amanda Curry 45. (Dig leaders) - Holly Amerena 20; Amanda Curry 11; Chelsea Buetow 10

Site: Seguin, Texas (Tostengard Activity Center); Date: Nov 04, 2006; Attendance: 207; Time: 2:00.

2006 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Jill Boyd, East Texas Baptist
• Jamie Lassiter, Texas Lutheran
• Shelley Paull, Texas-Dallas
• Brittany Fowler, Texas-Dallas
• Holly Amarena, Hardin-Simmons
• Chelsea Buetow, Hardin-Simmons
• Virginia Aguilar, Hardin-Simmons, MVP