ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Behind Abby Pickett's record-breaking performance of 22 kills in three sets, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms 3-0 in Ouachita's 2015 home-opening game. The Tigers won the three-set match 25-22, 25-14 and 25-21.
 
The Tigers (6-3, 1-0 GAC) dominated from the start, scoring the first four points of the match. Later in the first set, a 6-0 run by Ouachita gave the Tigers an 18-9 lead. Stormi Leonard led the charge with a kill and two assists.
 
After Ouachita claimed a 23-14 lead, the Blossoms attempted a comeback with an 8-1 run. With the Tigers ahead 24-22, Stephanie Pollnow clinched the set with a kill from Leonard. Pickett led all players with seven kills, eight attacks and zero errors in the first set.
 
Ouachita jumped out to an early lead again in the second set, as Pickett led a 7-1 run with three kills. After the Blossoms tied the set at seven, Ouachita took over and eventually won the set 25-14. Pickett recorded nine kills in the second set with only one error once again, and Ashley Wake added 11 digs. The Tigers allowed only four kills by the Blossoms while committing just five attack errors.
 
The Blossoms (3-3, 0-1 GAC) did not claim one lead in the entire match until the third set when Arkansas at Monticello took a 14-13 lead. Ouachita took the lead right back, however, with back-to-back kills from Julie Stanley and Pollnow. After back-and-forth play late in the set, the Tigers eventually won with a 7-3 run to end the match. Kori Bullard recorded kills on each of the final three points for Ouachita.
 
Ouachita finished with a total of 50 kills, while holding the Blossoms to 29. The Tigers also outscored Arkansas at Monticello with 70 digs, 47 assists and three blocks.
 
Leonard led all players with 44 assists in the match, tying a career high. She also added nine digs. Wake's 23 digs were a match-high, and Jayme Shell followed with 19. Bullard was the only player besides Pickett to finish in double-digits with 12.
 
Pickett's 22 kills are a career-high and the new Great American Conference record for kills in a three-set match. The record was previously held by Henderson State's Ty Lindberg, who recorded 21 kills against the District of Columbia on Sept. 9, 2011. Leonard's 44 assists are four shy of the GAC record for a three-set match.
 
The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as Ouachita travels to Magnolia to take on Southern Arkansas University. The match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.