ITTA BENA, Miss. – Mississippi Valley State sophomore Ariana Austin (Crowley, Tex.) tallied a career best 38 assists as the Devilettes earned their first win of the year – a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-15, 25-22) over Crowley's Ridge.

Both teams are now 1-4 on the season.

Austin's 38 assists were a major factor in Valley's 41 kills and .230 hitting percentage. Tyler Caliste (New Orleans, La.) led the match with 15 kills, and three players – Austin, Tylia Dixon (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Jessica Bell (Cedar Hill, Tex.) finished with eight digs each.

Valley also outpaced Crowley's Ridge in aces 6-4 and blocks 6-2.

For the Pioneers, Kaitlyn Perkins led the match with 12 digs and Kaitlyn Stebelton led her team in kills with seven.

The Devilettes needed all their firepower to persevere in the first set. Caliste supplied five kills, and Chardea Berthelot (Laplace, La.) added four more. In all, Valley used 15 kills to take the set 25-22.

Set two was a rout as Valley held the Pioneers to a negative hitting percentage, ultimately winning by ten.

The third set was close like the first as the Devilettes conceded nine attacking errors and a pair of service errors. But five more Caliste kills and four from Victoria Mallard (Galveston, Tex.) was enough to complete the sweep.

Next up for Valley is the Jaguar Invitational. The Devilettes will face Northwestern State, Tennessee State, and South Alabama this Friday (Sept. 6) and Saturday (Sept. 7).