Postgame Interviews: MVP Gracen Harris / Erin Davis / Christine Sas
Watch the final point!
Photos
Box Score
SEGUIN, TX — Hardin-Simmons' volleyball team had experienced heartbreak in two of the last three seasons, seeing its season end in the fifth game of the American Southwest Conference Tournament. For the five Cowgirl seniors, that is now just a distant memory because this time when HSU went to a fifth game they defeated Texas Lutheran 21-25, 16-25, 25-12, 25-20, 19-17 for the title on Saturday evening at Susan Duke Court at Tostengard Activity Center. 
Hardin-Simmons looked like they would go away quietly as Texas Lutheran won the first two games 25-21 and 25-16. The resilient Cowgirls responded with a 25-12 win in game three and HSU pulled away late to win 25-20 to force it to the fifth game.
The final game was a battle from the outset and went back and forth and HSU led 14-13 and had a match point, but TLU came up with a kill to tie. The match was tied at 17-17 but Madison Reyes had a huge kill and at 18-17 senior Diona Massey came up with a block of TLU's senior attacker Jessica Settler to end the match.
"This team would not quit," HSU head coach Sabrina Bingham said. "We worked so hard, the look in their eye after that second game just told me it wasn't over. We battled and after having two of these things go the other way, this feels really good, especially for our seniors."
Freshman Christine Sas and sophomore Madison Reyes have led the Cowgirls' attack all year long and the ASC Championship game was no different. Both had big nights. Sas had 19 kills and 24 digs and Reyes had 16 kills and 23 digs.
Defensively, the Cowgirls were led by their senior libero Gracen Harris, who had 37 digs. HSU has 111 digs on the match and Harris was named the tournament's MVP.
"We just believed deep down we could do it," Harris said. "We tightened up our defense and our offense got on a roll. When we are rolling we are a tough team to beat and I just love my team we have been through so much together. This is the greatest feeling."
Just like in the semifinals, HSU came up big with the block as well. HSU had 26 block assists and three solo blocks for 16 total blocks. Senior middle blockers Bri Addison (six block assists) and Diona Massey (three block solos and seven assisted blocks) came up big for the Cowgirls.
HSU's setters Erin Davis and Kaitlin Mitchell each had 21 assists in the match. The Cowgirls hit .129 in the match and held TLU to .106. Davis and Sas joined Harris on the all-tournament team.
Stetler had 24 kills and 24 digs in her final match. Sarah Black added 26 digs and 19 kills.
The Cowgirls, who became the first team to every win the ASC title after falling behind two games to none, improved to 21-7 on the year. HSU will find out on Monday where they will go for the NCAA Regional next weekend. It is the Cowgirls second ASC title. TLU finished their year with a 17-12 record.
-Courtesy Hardin-Simmons University Sports Information Department
All-Tournament Team
Gracen Harris, LIB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Most Valuable Player)
Sarah Black, OH, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Erin Davis, S, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Mandie Moore, OH, Sr., McMurry
Christine Sas, OH, Fr., Hardin-Simmons
Jessica Stetler, OH, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Amber Wetz, OH, Sr., Texas-Dallas