ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita volleyball team picked up its first GAC win of the season after defeating the University of Arkansas-Monticello by the score of 3-1 Thursday night at the Sturgis Center.
Set Scores:
23-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-12
Ouachita (9-5, 1-2 GAC) struck first against Arkansas-Monticello (4-8, 0-2 GAC) to open the Thursday night Great American Conference matchup. But it didn't take long for the Cotton Blossoms to answer back. Both sides went back and forth with small runs over the majority of the first set, with UAM taking the late advantage. Monticello held on and won set one 25-23.
The Tigers woke up between sets and jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start set number two. UAM tried cutting into that early Ouachita lead, bringing it within two points soon thereafter. But the Tigers found a new gear, going on an 8-0 tear that included six kills and an ace to take a 23-11 lead. Ouachita cruised through the last portion of the set to win 25-14 to tie the match 1-1.
The third set stared close, with UAM just a point behind Ouachita early with a score of 10-9. Then the Tigers came ablaze, rattling off 12 straight points to balloon their lead to 22-9. Ouachita comfortably finished the set, winning by a score of 25-13 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Ouachita wasn't looking to let up in the fourth set, opening the frame with a 4-0 run. A later 6-0 run gave the Tigers an eight-point lead over UAM. Ouachita kept its foot on the gas, pushing its lead to 13 points after an 8-2 run. The Blossoms put together a small run late in the set, but the Tigers were ready to go home. Ouachita scored the final four points all in a row to take set four 25-12 and win the match 3-1.
It was a balanced attack in tonight's win, as four Tigers hit double-digits in the kills category. Three of them,
Emily Adams,
Riley Braziel, and
Kailey Thedford tied for the match lead with 11 kills each.
Leah Gardner was close behind with 10, followed by
Haley Fairchild with nine. As a team, the Tigers tallied 57 kills on a .301 hitting percentage.
Garder led the front-row defensively with four blocks, followed by Fairchild and Thedford with three each.
Courtney Hanson led all setters with 39 assists. Hanson also recorded 11 digs for her tenth double-double of the season.
Avery Jauz led the back row with 18 digs, followed by Hanson and Braziel with 11, and
Peyton Church with 10. Braziel's 11 digs earned the junior her fifth double-double in as many games.
Hanson also racked up five aces in the win, tying a career-high from 2022. Church was next with a career-high four aces. In total, Ouachita racked up 12 aces on the night, a season high.
The Tigers will look to keep this momentum going for their next match, when they make the trip across the street to take on the Reddies of Henderson State University on Tuesday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m.
