SHERMAN, Texas. - Everything is bigger in Texas. The Lynx had a big opening weekend as they started their season on the road with a 3-1 finish. Rhodes matched up against Austin College as well as first time opponents Schreiner University, Arlington Baptist, and the University of Dallas.

GAME 1

Rhodes showed their tenacity early on with three straight kills by juniors Kathryn Chambers, Gabrielle White, and sophomore Shayla Garrison. The sudden volley of attacks forced a timeout by Schreiner. Another kill by Chambers pulled the score away 7-1 before the Mountaineers could break the Lynx's streak. The break was not enough as Schreiner allowed Rhodes room for another lengthy run giving the Lynx a 10-point lead. The Lynx would go on to take the first set 25-18. 

Set two saw a more even pace with the score staying within two points or tied. That is until an unreciprocated five-point run gave Rhodes a 13-9 advantage. Rhodes' six point run at the end of the set for a 22-13 tally sealed the deal. The Mountaineers would make a few more efforts before senior Marissa Hall dealt the final blow with a kill from setter Annie Entz for a score of 25-15. 

Schreiner would go on to earn their only win with a 25-16 victory in the third set. 

Fighting to keep the match alive, the Mountaineers gained an early lead opening the fourth set with a kill followed by another point from an attack error. Garrison answered with back-to-back kills to tie it up. This would be the case until a three-point run gave the Lynx an 8-4 advantage. Schreiner followed with a three-point run of their own, but the attempts were not enough as multiple short rallies put the Lynx out of arms reach. Rhodes closed out the match with a 25-20 victory. 

In the books, Hall protected the backcourt picking up 18 digs, the most of both teams. Teammate Brenna Weyant steered the Lynx offense with 21 assists. Chambers lead the way in kills recording 12 with Garrison right behind collecting 11. Both pin hitters garnered four spikes pushing the Lynx to a 3-1 opening finish.
 
GAME 2

Junior Gabrielle White opened the match with a kill to break the ice followed by an attack error on Austin gave Rhodes a quick 2-0 lead. The Roos collected two consecutive points as well, signaling the first of the times to come. Austin intercepted the back-and-forth with a 7-0 run towards the end of the opening set to take a 20-10 lead ultimately winning 25-15.

A 5-0 followed by a 7-0 run was too much for the Lynx is the second set as they fell 25-12.

Rhodes rallied and responded quickly by beginning set 3 with a 3-0 lead. The Roos, fumes running low, crept until a five-point run gave them a 13-10 lead. Back-to-back kills by junior Gabrielle White tied the score twice at 16-16 and 17-17. The Lynx would see the lead once more on their eighteenth point, but the Roos edged forward. The Lynx stayed within three points the entire match, but the stride fell short at 25-22.

First year Amber Williams made her presence known earning 11 assists. Hall continued to lead the defense with 16 digs - the most of both teams.



GAME 3


Ready to bounce back, the Lynx opened the score taking a three-point lead on an attacking error followed by back-to-back kills. A 4-0 run from Arlington gave them the lead. The score would nearly stall until the Lynx pulled away putting the Patriots in a 13-10 deficit. Rhodes held on to their lead the majority of the set never letting the Patriots get within a two-point advantage. With two kills and an ace to make the score 24-20, a kill by Annie Entz closed out the set 25-21.

Arlington set off the second set with a service ace and a steady seven-point run. The Patriots would keep the lead the entire match until two electrifying kills from Amber Williams to fellow first years Kym Young and Mary Oldham tied the score 19-19. The duo fashioned one more kill a piece while Garrison added to the attack with a kill from Oldham for set point. The Lynx claimed the second set 25-22.

The Lynx bolted away on an explosive 12-point run in set three. The strike was briefly halted by a kill from Arlington's Crawford before Rhodes struck with three more consecutive points. The Lynx would go out to conquer the Patriots in a clean 3-0 sweep.
Pin hitters Chambers and Garrison collected ten kills each, while Hall resumed to safeguard the backcourt with 12 digs. Williams Spread the court out wide with 17 assists.
 
GAME 4

What may have been the most exciting match of the weekend ended in a 3-1 victory for the Lynx. The Crusaders started the scoring with a service ace. Rhodes answered back with a powerful block by front line duo Gabrielle White and Kathryn Chambers. A small three-point run gave UDallas a 6-2 lead before the Lynx inched their way back to tie the score at 9-9 on a kill by Garrison. The set nearly went point for point until and attack error by Dallas tied it once again at 14-14. The nail biter continued as the Lynx stayed within points of the lead. The score sat even once more at 19-19. Three straight points by the Lynx put Rhodes up by one - their first lead of the game. The Crusaders regained a one-point lead to make it a 24-23 game. With the suspense thick in the air, first year Mary Oldham made the kill bringing it to a 24-24 point game. The exciting rally was just short of a Lynx victory at 26-24.
 
Rhodes' stride continued as junior Kathryn Chambers opened the second set with a kill from sophomore setter Gabriele Kozik. A quick two points gave Rhodes the lead they'd maintain the entire second set ultimately winning 25-20.
 
The Lynx hunger raged on. Juniors White and Chambers earned the first point with an explosive block on the right side. Dallas answered back with a kill. At 2-1, the Crusaders managed a short a one-point lead – the only lead they would see this set. Rhodes' first unanswered run gave Rhodes a 10-3 advantage. The gap would only widen as a kill by first year Sophia Brito put the Lynx up by nine at 21-12. After sitting at a hefty lead for the majority of the game, the Lynx saw Dallas score seven points to bring it within a three-point game. Chambers shattered that streak with a kill to Dallas' llagan. The Crusaders would come within a point before falling 25-21 to the Lynx.
 
Energy running low, Dallas' allowed three consecutive points on attack errors. The lead was, once again, one the Lynx would hold the entirety of the set. With three five-point runs, the Lynx closed out their final set in Texas 25-15.
 
WIlliams controlled the court with 19 assists while teammates Garrison and Chambers remained an attacking force collecting 10 kills apiece for the second time over the weekend.

UP NEXT
The Lynx kick off the Rhodes College Classic Friday September 10th with their home opener against Texas Lutheran at 1pm.