Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After winning the first two sets by a combined eight points, the Ouachita Tigers volleyball team dropped the third and fourth sets to the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs. In the fifth set, however, the Tigers opened with a 6-0 run and eventually won the set 15-9, leading to the 3-2 win over SWOSU.
The Tigers dominated the match early, and held a 24-17 lead over the Bulldogs in the first set. Southwestern did answer with a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 24-20, but the Ouachita's
Kelley Ballard clinched the set with a block.
In the second set, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead again, and at one point led 13-7. After another SWOSU comeback, the teams traded leads throughout the set until the Tigers won the last two points to win the set 25-22. Despite back-and-forth scoring, the Bulldogs never led during the second set.
The Bulldogs did not admit defeat, winning the next two sets 25-21 and 25-17. During the fourth set, the Bulldogs recorded a team attack percentage of .317, while holding the Tigers to .044.
In the final set, Ouachita jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Southwestern then recorded three consecutive points, but the Tigers increased their lead to 8-3 before the teams switched sides. From then on, the Tigers never allowed the Bulldogs to come within four points, winning the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.
Tara Wait and
Jayme Shell each recorded double-doubles for the Tigers. Wait recorded a match-high 47 assists and added 12 digs. Shell finished with a team-high 12 kills and recorded 16 digs.
Ashley Wake recorded a career-high, as well as match-high, 34 digs. Ballard,
Abby Pickett and
Kori Bullard each finished with nine kills. Ballard also recorded four solo blocks and four assisted blocks.
The Tigers (9-3, 3-2 GAC) will host Williams Baptist College on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Sturgis Physical Education Center. The match is scheduled for p.m.
