ST. LOUIS – On Friday evening the Hornets volleyball team hosted the Mustangs of Central Baptist on senior night 2022, securing a 3-2 victory and moving one step closer to punching their ticket into the 2022 American Midwest Conference Volleyball Championship. To solidify their quarterfinals appearance the Hornets defeated Lyon College 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Game versus Central Baptist College: 25-20, 25-22, 27-25, 28-26, 17-15

Looking at the score breakdown per set, it is obvious that it was an uphill battle for both teams that came down to who wanted it the most. In points, the Mustangs edge past the Hornets 73.0 to 72.0 and also led in kills with 61 to 54. Service aces were also in favor of CBC, as they recorded nine to HSSU's four. Blocks were completely in favor of the Hornets, who tallied 14 to three.

Ariyonna Johnson (14), A'nyla Watson (14) and Jayden Sortor (12) paced the Hornets in kills. Johnson and Mallorie Wooten each recorded two aces. Queen Patterson showed pure grit as leaped for eight blocks. Sortor added five and Darlene Fenderson three to aid the Harris-Stowe offense.

There is a saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way," however, for the Hornets, where there is a kill, there is usually an assist. A'Nia Ware put up 45 assists for HSSU and Nikeal Clark tallied 31 digs. Sortor and Wooten each added an assist, while Ware and Makayla Hernandez put up six and fix digs respectively.

Game versus Lyon College: 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21

With a short turn around, the Hornets suited up to battle Lyon College in their last regular season contest. The Hornets dropped the first set and snapped back with three back-to-back sets to secure the victory.

In the points category, HSSU outpaced the Fighting Scots 64.0-56.0. Landing 50 kills to Lyon's 42, the Hornets proved they were in it to win it. LC edged past HSSU in aces nine to seven. Blocks for the second match in a row, the Hornets led with seven while holding the Fighting Scots to five. HSSU tallied 47 assists to 42 by LC and 52-50 in the digs category.

Ariyonna Johnson led Harris-Stowe with 13 kills, A'nyla Watson tallied 12 and Jayden Sortor added ten. A'Nia Ware (3) Nickeal Clark (1) and Nyah Parker (1) each recorded aces for the Hornets. Blocks were led by Ariel Stroud with five, Sortor with three and Johnson with one. Ware had 41 assists, Clark recorded three and Sortor added two. Digs was another explosive category for the Hornets, as Clark tallied 26, while Ware and Watson each recorded five.