ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Despite losing the first set, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Oklahoma Baptist Lady Bison 3-1 on Friday, moving to 4-2 in the Great American Conference. The Lady Bison took the first set 25-20, before Ouachita won the next three 25-21, 25-22 and 25-20.
 
The Lady Bison (10-9, 5-1 GAC) took an early lead in the first set behind a 5-0 run to start the match. The Tigers were unable to tie or take a lead for the rest of the set, and Oklahoma Baptist grabbed the early lead at home.
 
Ouachita (9-5, 4-2 GAC) responded well, however, taking the second set behind six kills from Abby Pickett and three kills from Stephanie Pollnow.
 
The Tigers then won the third set by limiting the Lady Bison to only 13 kills and an attack percentage of .182. Ouachita held a .267 attack percentage due to a match-high 17 kills. Kori Bullard led the way with seven kills in the set, and Ashley Wake had 10 digs.
 
In the fourth and final set, Ouachita recorded 14 kills and two blocks, while holding the Lady Bison to only 10 kills. Wake's 11 digs in the set were a team-high, and Bullard led the Tigers again with five kills and only one error.
 
Ouachita finished with a .205 attack percentage, compared to Oklahoma Baptist's .183 percentage. Pickett finished the match with 21 kills, followed by Bullard with 14 and Pollnow with eight. Caitlin Cantrell had a team-high three blocks, and Wake had a match-high 39 digs. Jayme Shell had 13 digs, five kills and two aces, and Stormi Leonard ended the match with a double-double, accumulating a career-high 49 assists and adding 11 digs.
 
The Tigers currently lead the GAC with a .232 attack percentage and are ranked second with 12.37 assists per set. Ouachita is also second in kills and third in blocks. Individually, Pickett is ranked at the top of the conference with a .352 attack percentage. She also leads with 4.15 kills per set and 4.41 points per set. Leonard is first in the GAC with 11.21 assists per set, Bullard is fourth with a .307 attack percentage and Wake is fifth with 5.15 digs per set.
 
Ouachita is tied for third in the GAC standings. The Tigers will take the court again on Saturday, as Ouachita takes on Southern Nazarene. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Bethany, Okla.