ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Volleyball team took Southwestern Oklahoma State down to the wire, but ultimately dropped their home match to the Bulldogs 3-2 Friday night.
The Tigers started the match out hot, using an early 7-0 run to take a double-digit lead over third-place SWOSU. Ouachita held onto that lead to take the first set in dominant fashion with a score of 25-12.
The next two sets were kept close, but Southwestern Oklahoma edged out wins in sets two and three with scores of 25-19 and 25-23 respectively to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Ouachita started set four with an ace from
Courtney Hanson and took off from there. An early 6-0 run put the Tigers up 8-2 and Ouachita used that lead to their advantage. SWOSU tried to chip away and the Tigers' lead, but Ouachita held on to win 25-22 on a kill from
Emily Adams to force a deciding fifth set.
This time it was the Bulldogs that took an early lead, holding on to take set five 15-12 and win the match 3-2.
Despite the loss, Ouachita did fill up the box score, with seven separate Tigers reaching double figures in their respective categories.
The offense saw four Tigers reach the double-digit kill mark. Leading the way was
Kayla Steinmeyer with a season-high 14 kills to lead all attackers.
Riley Braziel was next with 11, followed by
Emily Adams and
Leah Gardner who each recorded 10.
Avery Jauz paced the back row with a career-high 25 digs. Hanson was next with 13, followed by Braziel and
Kylie Kisgen with 11 each.
Courtney Hanson led all setters with 47 assists.
Hanson and Braziel both recorded double-doubles tonight, Braziel doing so with 11 kills and 11 digs and Hanson reaching it with 47 assists and 13 digs. This was Hanson's eighth double-double of the season and Braziel's sixth.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround as they play the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State tomorrow, Saturday, October 7 at 2 p.m. at SPEC.
