Photo Credit: Tony Baker, NMTXSports.com

HOUSTON, Texas – No. 3 seed University of the Southwest dropped a tough 25-11, 26-24, 16-25, 26-24 decision to Huston-Tillotson in the semifinals of the 2017 Red River Athletic Conference Championship.
 
The Mustangs complete their season with a 15-14 record.
 
The tandem of junior Hannah Massey and senior Shelby Bartley kept the Rams on their toes.
 
Massey tallied 13 kills, one solo block and three assisted blocks, while Bartley added 12 kills, three solo blocks and six assisted blocks. Junior Torie Joiner was also a force in front of the net and added five assisted blocks and solo block and four kills. As a team, USW recorded 18 assisted blocks and four solo blocks.
 
Sophomore Brenda Pargas added 26 assists and 13 digs, while junior Miranda Tapia helped with eight assists and eight digs.
 
Senior Karina Grajeda added 22 digs.
 
For the first time in recent history, USW will finish with back-to-back seasons of above .500 play.
 
To earn a spot in the RRAC championship semi-final, the Mustangs met No. 6 Langston in the quarterfinal Friday afternoon cruised to a 25-11, 25-12, 25-13 sweep.
 
Bartley added a game-high 17 kills and finished with a .533 hitting percentage.
 
Junior Corina Madrid added eight kills and three digs.
 
Tapia added 17 assists and Pargas finished with 15 assists.
 
Grajeda also finished with 29 digs.