The NAIA No. 25 Lady Cougars (6-2) began the marathon day by sweeping NCAA Division II Colorado Christian University (0-3) in straight sets 26-24, 25-13, 25-20. Sophomore middle hitter Jackie Albrecht (left) led MVNU with 10 kills and four blocks, while junior setter Kaylin Austen handed out 27 assists and served up two aces. Senior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham pounded 10 kills, and freshman outside hitter Cieleste Rose and sophomore defensive specialist Caitlin Myles recorded seven and six digs respectively. Sophomore middle hitter Sarah Yutzy also posted three blocks.

Next up for the Lady Cougars was a meeting with perennial power Lee (Tenn.) University. The Lady Flames (3-0), who have won four straight Southern States Athletic Conference titles and received votes in the NAIA preseason poll, won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-18. However, MVNU bounced back to even the match at two sets apiece by taking the third and fourth sets 25-22 and 25-18. Then, Lee claimed the match with a 15-9 victory in the fifth and deciding set.

Albrecht paced the Lady Cougars with 13 kills and nine digs against the Lady Flames, while freshman middle hitter Gina Porto had career highs of 11 kills and six blocks. Austen handed out 34 assists, and Yutzy matched her career high with five blocks. Rose served up four aces to go with six digs, while junior right-side hitter Courtney Springer registered three aces.

After a break of a couple of hours, MVNU returned to the court to cap off the long day against the host Lady Lions of Bryan (2-2). The Lady Cougars wrapped up another successful weekend by taking the match in four sets 25-9, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23. Albrecht, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, pounded a career-high 18 kills to go with 10 digs and five aces. Springer added 12 kills, while Austen handed out 42 assists and served up three of the team’s season-high 16 aces. Hickinbotham posted 12 digs and nine kills, and Porto registered eight kills and three blocks.

"This was another really good weekend for us,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. "We had the opportunity to play four very good teams and we won three of the matches and lost the other in five sets. Lee was an excellent team and we showed great character in coming back from the two-set deficit to even have a chance to win the match. They were big at the net and it was hard to put away kills for points. We need to continue to get more consistent in all areas of our play, but this was another positive step forward.”

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will host Denison University at 7:00 p.m. in the team’s home opener. The Cougar Crazies are sponsoring a tailgate party at the Prince Student Union prior to the match at 5:30 p.m. that will include all the fall sports teams.