PROVO, Utah— The LIU volleyball team concluded the BYU Doterra Classic on Saturday afternoon, dropping a three-set match to Sam Houston State (18-25,12-25,17-25) at the Smith Field House.

The first set started with both teams trading points. SHSU then used a 4-1 stretch to jump ahead 8-5 early. The Sharks netted four straight points in the middle of the opening set on a kill from freshman Darragh Dixon, a block by freshman Miranda Strongman along with two SHSU errors to bring the score to 12-11. Another 4-1 run for the Bearkats gave way for the four-point lead at 16-12. LIU would work its way to within two points as a kill by senior Kora Schaberl brought the score to 17-15. SHSU used an 8-3 closing stretch to take the first set, 25-18.

Momentum carried over for the Bearkats to start set two with an early 9-5 lead. SHSU's lead would build to a nine-point favor at 15-6. LIU then used a four-point run on a kill from Schaberl along with three SHSU errors to cut the score to 15-10. The Bearkats closed out the second set with a 10-2 stretch for the 25-12 second set win.

LIU got off to the early lead in the third set at 4-2 on a few SHSU errors and a service ace from freshman Barbora Hoskova. SHSU responded with an eight-point swing to take control of the set at 10-4. The lead margin continued to hold as the set wore on with LIU getting to within five at 18-13. SHSU kept pace to take the match and third set 25-17.

Schaberl posted a match-high 12 kills for the Sharks and contributed seven digs. Dixon dished out 12 assists and senior Amanda Hubbard added eight assists. Defensively, Strongman recorded a pair of blocks and senior Natalia Rivera recorded nine digs.

UP NEXT

The Sharks return to the court next weekend for the River City Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. LIU opens competition on Friday, September 13 with a pair of matches against FIU (1:00 p.m.) and North Florida (7:00 p.m.) at UNF Arena.