ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team fell twice on the opening day of the Bettye Wallace Invitational, hosted by Henderson State University. The Tigers fell in straight sets to the hosts and Western New Mexico on Thursday evening from the Duke Wells Center.  

Match 1: Henderson State 3, West Alabama 0 
UWA struggled from the start of the contest, as HSU forced UWA to 11 attack errors in the first set, despite the Reddies having 10 kills to the Tigers' eight. 

After taking the first set 25-13, Henderson State limited West Alabama to five kills in the second set to cruise to a 25-14 win.  

The third set saw the Tigers taking advantage of six errors from the Reddies on the front row. However, despite UWA tying the set up at 15 points apiece,HSU finished the set on a 10-3 run to take the match.  

Quiara Dunson led all players with 19 digs, while Ally Craig contributed six kills.  

Trinity Sharp and Violeta Mendoza Quintana recorded 18 and 16 digs, respectively.  

Match 2: Western New Mexico 3, West Alabama 0 
The first set was a see-saw battle between the two schools. Trailing 22-17, UWA scored five straight points, with Berfin Mertcan contributing on four straight. After a WNMU service error, Mertcan's set to Ally Craig made in a 22-19 score.  

Following back-to-back service aces for the junior transfer, she spiked the kill to even the score at 22.  

However, that was the beginning of the set. After the Mustangs forced "lingering death", the teams traded points for a while. Tied at 31, Chyna Dixon gave UWA the set point, but WNMU scored the final three points to take the set, 33-31.  

Despite the loss, the Tigers posted 19 kills in the frame to the Mustangs' nine.  

After West Alabama got out to a 6-4 lead in the second set, Western New Mexico responded with 12 of the next 15 points to storm out to a 16-9 lead en route to a 25-15 score.  

In set number three, the Mustangs got out to an 11-5 lead and held on for the 25-19 score to take the match.  

Ally Craig posted a season-high 12 kills and collected a double-double with 13 digs. Berfin Mertcan also had a double-double with 31 assists and 15 digs, while Quiara Dunson added 15 digs.  

For WNMU, Jazmyne Walker led the team with 10 kills, while Liouann Bechec had 20 digs.  

UWA (1-6) will play two more matches on Friday, taking on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. and Keiser (Fla.) at 4:30 p.m.