SHAWNEE, Oklahoma – The Ouachita team dropped the first match of its Oklahoma road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist Thursday afternoon.
Set Scores: 26-24, 21-25, 19-25, 21-25
The match started off well, with Ouachita (11-7, 2-4 GAC) going toe-to-toe with the reigning GAC Champions in Oklahoma Baptist (9-9, 3-3 GAC) over the first several points. The Tigers used a five-point run to take a 16-12 lead over the Bison midway through the first set. From threre, it was back to back-and-forth action between the two teams. OKB tied the set at 23-23 after a 3-0 run. It took extra points, but the Tigers held on to take the opening set 26-24.
The second set saw Oklahoma Baptist take the early lead thanks to a couple of small runs. Ouachita kept it close, bringing the set within two points late, but this time the Bison held on to take set two 25-21 and tie the match 1-1.
Ouachita fell behind early in the third set thanks to a 5-1 start for OKB. Similar to set two, the Tigers fought their way back within two points late in the set, but it was too late, and Oklahoma Baptist took set three 25-19 to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Bison started hot in set four, and it looked like they were going to control the entire set. But Ouachita found a spark late and went on a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the set 17-16. However, OKB was quick to answer with a run on their own. The Tigers tried to claw back late, but it was not enough. The Bison finished off the set with the score of 25-21 and the Tigers dropped the match 3-1.
Emily Adams led the floor with a season-high 18 kills with a .390 hitting percentage.
Kailey Thedford was next with 11 kills, followed by
Riley Braziel and
Haley Fairchild with nine each, and
Leah Gardner with eight.
Adams and Fairchild also tied for the team lead in total blocks with five each.
Five Tigers reached double digit digs.
Avery Jauz led the team with 22.
Kylie Kisgen was next with 17, followed by Braizel with 14,
Courtney Hanson with 13, and
Peyton Church with 10.
Hanson also led the team with 49 assists, marking her seventh 40-plus assist match of the season. The Arlington, Texas native's 49 assists and 13 digs combined for her 11
th double-double so far this year.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround as they will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene University on Friday, October 11 at 4 p.m. in Bethany, Oklahoma.
