ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita is off to an impressive start to their season at 6-0, contributing two wins to that record today in the Reddie-Tiger Challenge in their home opener. The Tigers defeated the Dallas Baptist University Patriots in five sets 3-2 in the first match, as well as the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats in straight sets in the second match 3-0.
 
"Overall I was happy with our fight in the first game," said coach Allison Frizzell-Kizer, "because we had the second set blew and a fourth set blew and then we dominated the fifth set and then coming off that game of 2 hours, having to play right after we started well, didn't play well in the middle, but finished well the last couple of points. We need more consistency in serve receives and less missed serves."
 
"Tori Barnhill came into the game as a spitfire and I was glad that she came out and did what we asked her to do," said coach Allison Frizzell-Kizer. "Adrianna Nolly and Stormi Leanord are consistent and their connection is way better this week than it was in the tournament last weekend. If they can stay connected like they have been this weekend, then we can be confident with them moving into conference play."
 
Adrianna Nolly finished the first day of the tournament with 36 kills, while Stormi Leonard recorded 78 assists along with Julianna Mack's 29 digs.
 
Match One: Ouachita 3, Dallas Baptist 2
For the second year in a row, the Tigers have won a back-and-forth nail-biter against the Patriots in five sets to clinch there fifth win of the season. The Tigers have won their home opener the last four years at Sturgis Physical Education Center in Arkadelphia, Ark.
 
The Tigers began the match with what would be their best set hitting .429% and recording 16 kills, while holding the Patriots to a .233 hitting percentage. Ouachita began the match neck and neck with Dallas Baptist and trailed by no more than three until they tied it up at 10 each. From there, the Tigers never relinquished the lead, winning the first set 25-19.
 
For the second set, both teams combined for seven lead changes. At 15-15, the Patriots sparked a 3-0 run and did not surrender the lead again despite the Tigers pulling within a point three different times to end the set 25-22.
 
The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and led by as much as five at 14-9 halfway through the set. The Patriots game back to within a single point against the Tigers at 20-19 before the Tigers made a 5-2 run to win the middle set 25-21.
 
It was all the Patriots for the fourth set of play as they recorded a match best .444 hitting percentage. Dallas Baptist began the set with a 10-2 surge and led by as much as 15 points at 22-7. The Tigers showed some fight at the end of the match ringing off four straight points before the Patriots clinched their second set win at 25-13.
 
The Tigers turned the tables in the final set of play and jumped out early with a 4-1 lead. Winning 9-4, the Tigers ignited the fire and answered four more points before the Patriots answered with four of their own. The Patriots hit a match low .133% in the final set of play.
 
Adrianna Nolly led the Tigers in three different categories: Kills (17), blocks (4), and points (20.5). Stormi Leonard also had 45 assists and Julianna Mack had 19 digs. The Tigers found Katie Camp and Tabatha Huckabee in double digits in kills as well with 11 each.
 
Match Two: Ouachita 3, Southwest Baptist 0
The Tigers swept the Bearcats in straights sets to clinch their sixth victory of the season. Ouachita remains undefeated while the Bearcats fall to a record of 0-6.
 
The Tigers dominated the first set hitting .684% while the Bearcats supplied a -.043 hitting percentage in the set. Stringing out 7 straight points at 15-5, the Tigers made sure that the set was never in doubt as it finished 25-15.
 
Set two found the first lead for the Bearcats 3-2, but was quickly surrendered to the Tigers before making a 6-0 run with a score of 18-14. From there the Tigers continued to perform later with a 7-1 run to clinch the set 25-18.
 
The final and third set of play found the Tigers with a 8-0 run to lead off the match. Although the Tigers led by as much as ten points toward the end of the match, the Bearcats climbed back within two points before Katie Camp performed a kill to end the game and give Ouachita the victory 25-22.
 
Adrianna Nolly led all scorers with 19 kills in the match where the Tigers hit an impressive .508% on the match. Stormi Leonard assisted the scorers for the Tigers 33 times with Julianna Mack contributing 10 digs.
 
Ouachita will play at home tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. against Union University and 6:00 p.m. against Mississippi College. For more information on the Ouachita Volleyball team go to www.obutigers.com