ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita volleyball team wrapped up the regular season on a high note, sweeping cross-street rival Henderson State at home on Senior Night.
Final set scores were 25-15, 25-19, and 25-22. The Tigers head into the Great American Conference Championship Tournament at 16-12 overall and 12-4 in conference matches. The Tigers have clinched the No. 3 seed in the event, which begins next Wednesday, November 11 in Enid, Oklahoma. More information about the tournament will be released once the bracket is finalized.
Ouachita controlled the opening set, finishing with 16 kills and six total blocks while holding HSU to a negative hitting percentage. The Reddies kept it close in the second set until the Tigers used a pair of 5-0 runs to run away with it late.
HSU made a push in the third set with multiple lead changes and back-and-forth rallies. With the set tied at 20, the Tigers took advantage of a pair of kills from
Leah Gardner, a pair of HSU errors, and a final kill by
Kailey Thedford to seal the match.
Gardner eclipsed 1,000 career kills in the win, finishing with match-highs in kills (15) and hitting percentage (.387). Thedford added 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Sophie Henry finished with eight kills and a team-high five blocks.
Mack Bidwell totaled 34 assists and nine digs in the win.
Kylie Kisgen,
Delaney Gonzalez, and
Ann Marie Tice all reached double digits in digs with 15, 11, and 10, respectively.
Following the win, the Tigers honored their six seniors –
Paige Webb,
Kylie Kisgen,
Kailey Thedford,
Leah Gardner,
Mack Bidwell, and
Ann Marie Tice.
