Box Score HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The #4 seeded Ouachita Tiger volleyball team faced off against the Lady Bulldogs of Southwestern Oklahoma State in the opening round of the Great American Conference Championship Tournament.
 
In set one, the Tigers found themselves down early 8-16 to the Lady Bulldogs forcing Head Coach Danny Prescott to take a timeout and regroup. The Tigers responded with an 11-3 run to cut the lead to two. The Tigers would make it a one point match after a block by Kelley Ballard and Abby Pickett.  Pickett would score the next point on a vicious kill down the back center. The Tigers would take their first lead of the set 22-21. They would close out set one with a 26-24 win.
 
In set two, the teams went back and forth early. The Tigers were trailing 12-13 when SWOSU would go on a run and lead 12-17, thanks in large part to Lady Bulldog hitter Terry Collins. Southwestern would extend their lead to 14-24. The Lady Tigers responded and went on a six point run forcing a Lady Bulldog timeout. SWOSU would take the set 19-25 to even up the match 1-1.
 
SOWSU jumped out to another large lead early in set three, forcing the Tigers to take a timeout down 2-9. The Lady Bulldogs led the entire set, but the Tigers wouldn't quit. Down 19-23, the Tigers would rally and get within two before dropping the third set 22-25.
 
Set four saw the Tigers play their best volleyball going up 10-7 on a block by Stephanie Pollnow and forcing a SWOSU timeout. The Tigers never let up and forced a set five by winning 25-16. Jayme Shell and Kelsi Bodine were big at the net for the Tigers.
 
In set five, the Tigers jumped out early and had a 10-6 lead that forced SWOSU to take a timeout. The Lady Bulldogs would rally back and tie the set at 13-13 and again at 14-14. The Lady Bulldogs would commit the final two of their eight attack errors in set five and the Tigers would complete their rally of being down two sets to one and win the match 3-2. Set five was won 16-14.
 
The Tigers had five players with double digits in kills, led by Abby Pickett and Tara Wait with 11. Wait would record a triple double with 11 kills, 42 assists and 19 digs.
 
The Tigers will face the #1 seeded Lady Bison of Harding tomorrow at 6 p.m.