Box Score
Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – An intense crowd packed Rankin Williams Fieldhouse for Great American Conference volleyball between SWOSU and Southern Nazarene on Tuesday night, but it was the visitors who left victorious as SNU held on to win in four sets by scores of 17-25, 25-27, 25-21, 21-25.
After falling in set one 25-17, the final three sets were all played within a few points span. SWOSU took a 23-20 lead late in the second set but on the next point starting setter
Brandy Mader was injured while diving for a loose ball. SNU closed out the set with five of the final seven points to go on top 2-0 with a 27-25 win of the set.
SWOSU quickly rebounded in a spirited third set which saw plenty of emotion as the two teams tied at all but one point from 8-8 until 20-20. It was at that 20th point that the Bulldogs made their push.
Alison Cole combined with
Breann Whitaker and
Carly Zak for assist blocks then Cole took matters into her own hands, putting down the 24th and 25th points of the set on kills and helping SWOSU force a fourth set with a 25-21 victory.
The momentum from the set carried over early in the fourth as SWOSU built an 8-3 lead after
Shayne Haley put down a kill that forced SNU to call a timeout. The Crimson Storm then started a methodical rally which saw them take control of the set after the 14th point. SNU hit .308 for the set and made just five hitting errors as they finished off the match 25-21.
A trio of Bulldogs led the way offensively with double figures in kills, led by Cole and Zak who each finished with 16.
Joey Collins added a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs, making her one of five Bulldogs with 10 or more digs.
Kaila Lancaster led SWOSU with 20,
Kenya Williams had 14 while
Saasha Jacobson and Whitaker each had 11.
Whitaker also led SWOSU with 28 assists and Mader added 15 in two sets before leaving the match. Cole and
Kiley Brennfoerder each had a team-high three blocks for the Bulldogs, who fall to 9-18 (5-5 GAC) on the year after the setback.
The Bulldogs have minimal rest before heading to Alva for a Halloween night match against Northwestern Oklahoma State. That match will start at 7 pm on Thursday evening.
