Box Score (html)
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Both times SWOSU and Ouachita Baptist met last season, the match went into five sets, leaving no reason to not expect a comeback effort from the Bulldogs when they fell down 2-0 in Saturday's match. SWOSU would push the match to a fifth set before OBU finished off the Bulldogs to win 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 9-15).
SWOSU appeared to have seized momentum heading into the fifth set, but it would be short-lived as Ouachita Baptist scored the first six points of the deciding set. The closest the Bulldogs got was three points at 6-3 but OBU responded with the next two points and wouldn't look back.
Carly Zak led the Bulldogs with 16 kills on 65 attack attempts, the third-most in school history.
Joey Collins (14) and
Shayne Haley (10) each reached double figures in kills while
Taylor VanderWerff was close behind with nine.
Brandy Mader had 46 assists and 13 digs for a second consecutive double-double while Haley and
Kaila Lancaster tied for team-high honors with 20 digs apiece.
SWOSU out-blocked the Tigers 12-to-10 on the back of another great defensive effort from
Kiley Brennfoerder, who sent back nine attempts, including one solo and eight assist blocks. Mader added six assist blocks while Zak had five and VanderWerff three.
The Bulldogs now must wait until next weekend to try and even their record as they drop to 5-7 on the year and 3-2 in Great American Conference play. They now will play host to nine of their next 10 matches in the new Pioneer Cellular Event Center, starting with a visit from Southern Arkansas next Friday, October 3.
