ARKADELPHIA, Ark.–The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split two matches in the season-opening Henderson State University Classic Friday afternoon, falling to Cameron in straight sets before topping Southern Arkansas in four sets.

In the opener, Cameron (1-1) won nailbiters in the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-20, before wrapping up the match with a 25-13 win in the third set.

Brinsley Cooper (Rossville, Ind./Rossville HS) led the Lady Bucs (1-1) with seven kills, while Hannah Kurtz (Memphis, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) and Alexis Gillis (Corpus Christi, Texas/Carroll HS) added six each. Jessica Reber (Byron, Ill./Byron HS) posted team-highs of 29 assists and nine digs.

In the second match against Southern Arkansas (1-1), the Lady Bucs seized control early with a 25-13 win in the first set and a 25-14 win in the second set. After SAU won the third set 25-19, the Lady Bucs won 25-17 to even their record on the season.

Gillis led the Lady Bucs with 16 kills, matching her career-high, and Korbakes tacked on 11 kills. Reber had 43 assists, and Marisa Wong (Germantown, Tenn./Houston HS) logged a team-high 10 digs. As a team, the Lady Bucs collected 17 aces, their highest total since recording 27 against Crichton Aug. 28, 2007. It marked the fourth-best total in school history and the highest total for a four-set match. Alison Welch (Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch HS) collected eight aces, the most in a four-setter in school history and tied for third overall. The Lady Bucs hit .267 in the win, with Gillis hitting .323.

The Lady Bucs return to action tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. against Texas A&M-Commerce. They wrap up the HSU Classic against the hosts tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.