ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Volleyball team had its five-game win streak come to an end tonight with a 3-2 loss across the street to Henderson State.
The match started close, with both sides exchanging small leads before Henderson found a rhythm to go up by eight. Ouachita tried to close the gap with a 5-1 run late, but the Reddies held onto their lead to take set one 25-21.
The Tigers came out hot in the second set, taking an 8-1 lead to start. Another 6-0 run pushed Ouachita's lead to 11 points with a score of 15-4. Henderson wasn't going down easy though, as the Reddies climbed all the way back to make it a one-point set 24-23 before an HSU attack error gave the Tigers a 25-23 win to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set saw the two teams go back to trading points and small leads until the Tigers found a groove for a 4-0 run that put Ouachita up 15-12. The Tigers clung to that lead until the Reddies tied it up 19-19. The Tigers took back the lead on a kill from
Kayla Steinmeyer and this time held onto it to win set three 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Henderson then came alive, handedly taking set four 25-14 to tie the match 2-2. The Tigers struggled to find a rhythm in set five as well, with Henderson holding onto an early lead to win the set 15-9 and take the match 3-2.
Kayla Steinmeyer led the Tiger offense with a season-high 17 kills and a .317 hitting percentage.
Emily Adams was next with 11 kills and a .313 hitting percentage.
Avery Juaz tied a career-high with 29 digs to lead all defenders.
Riley Braziel and
Kellen Church both grabbed 11 digs and
Courtney Hanson had 10.
Hanson led the Tigers with 39 assists. The 39 assists and 10 digs combine for Hanson's 14
th double-double of the season.
The Tigers will look to bounce back in the final match of the regular season against the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech University on Thursday, November 9 in Russellville, Arkansas.
