Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Volleyball survived against Southern Arkansas on Friday night, defeating the Muleriders 3-2 after a huge fourth-set comeback by SAU forced the deciding fifth set.
Southern Arkansas stormed out in the first set, leading comfortably for a majority of the early points. The Dawgs would dig themselves out of their deficit by fighting off four set points at 24-21 before putting pressure of their own on the Muleriders. SWOSU had two set points themselves, leading 25-24 and again at 26-25, but SAU would answer both of them with scores of their own. Knotted at 28-28, the Bulldogs committed back-to-back attack errors that gave Southern Arkansas the opening set.
In the second set, SWOSU responded by leading wire to wire to tie the match back up at 1-1. The Bulldogs hit a match-best .257 in the frame, led by
Sofia Gruden who collected five kills after only getting one in the opening set. The Muleriders also helped the Dawgs out courtesy of 10 errors by SAU.
After two large margins in the first two sets from both teams, the third set featured a back and forth affair for much of the set. Both teams traded points and leads, with nine different ties and five separate lead changes. Winning 20-19, the Dawgs proceeded to claim five of the final six points to take a 2-1 lead heading to the fourth and what would be the final set.
SWOSU seemed in control of the fourth set, leading by five at 20-15 before the Muleriders took over. From that point on, SAU scored the final 10 points and quickly forced the match to go the distance.
In the match's final set, SWOSU regained the momentum with a statement. The Dawgs scored eight unanswered to begin to frame, switching sides leading 8-0. The lead would prove to be more than enough as SAU would only get within six points once, and the Bulldogs went on to claim he set 15-7 and the match 3-2.
Sofia Gruden had herself a big game, in only the fifth she's played in this year due to injury. Gruden posted 10 kills and added five blocks to her statsheet – both season highs for the sophomore.
DeLayni Fine led the attack with 16 kills, while
Valerie Vermillion (12),
Addie Aman (10), and
Danusia Sipa Borgeaud (12) all also got to the double-digit kill mark.
Defensively,
Kaitlyn Dillon dug 29 balls from her libero spot and Fine added three blocks of her own.
Klemson Lancaster led the team from the serving line, producing three aces and
Kodee Avery assisted on 53 points at setter.
"Hats off to Southern Arkansas, they were never out of it and they fought hard, especially in the fourth set," SWOSU Head Coach
Josh Collins said. "Overall, once we started following the game plan I thought we played extremely well. We did some things extremely well and played hard which is what we've done all season. I'm proud of my group, this is a good five-set win for our team."
SWOSU (7-13, 4-2 GAC) has now won three-consecutive conference matches and will have a chance to extend that streak on Saturday with another home match against Arkansas-Monticello, starting at 1 pm.
