CANYON, Texas – SWOSU Volleyball split the day on Saturday, collecting their first win of the season against Colorado State-Pueblo in the opening game of the day before falling to Adams State in the nightcap. The Dawgs move to 1-3 on the season and conclude their stay in Canyon at the West Texas A&M Buff Classic.
Up next for SWOSU will be another round robin weekend event at the Lubbock Christian Chap Classic on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9 where they will play four more matches in two days.
SWOSU 3, Colorado State-Pueblo 2
14-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-8
Box Score
SWOSU decided to wait until they were down two sets to kick it into gear, but when they finally did they did not look back. SWOSU claimed three-consecutive set victories after falling behind 2-0 and went on to win their first match of the season.
After losing decisively in the opening set 25-14, the Dawgs brought the Thunderwolves down to the wire in set number two before falling 25-23.
In the third, it was sophomore
Valerie Vermillion who took over offensively late in the frame. With SWOSU winning 13-11, Vermillion collected five kills in the final 12 points including three-consecutive to give the Bulldogs a 22-16 lead. She would then go on to end the set herself with the final kill, allowing the Dawgs to survive the sweep and keep playing.
The fourth set was SWOSU's second-worst offensively, but the Dawgs found a way to overcome a .128 hitting percentage and eight errors to force a fifth set.
When the Bulldogs needed someone to step up most, freshman
JaLisa Hollingshed and senior
DeLayni Fine came calling. The pair combined for seven of the team's eight kills in the final frame as the Dawgs went on to win their third-straight set 15-8 and earn their first victory of the season. Fine provided points in the middle of the set while Hollingshed delivered the final blows by slamming down three of SWOSU's final five points.
Four different Dawgs posted double-digit kills in the match, led by Hollingshed and
Danusia Sipa Borgeaud with 13, Fine with 12 and Vermillion with 10.
Kodee Avery collected 44 assists from the setter position and
Allie Hoang and
Klemson Lancaster both had four service aces apiece.
Defensively, SWOSU held CSU-P to a .159 hitting percentage through five sets. The Bulldogs also caused problems at the net all afternoon, with 12.0 blocks as a team which included four players with at least four assisted.
Adams State 3, SWOSU 0
18-25, 22-25, 18-25
Box Score
The Dawgs were swept by the Grizzlies in straight sets in the final match of the classic, falling 25-18, 25-22, 25-18. SWOSU posted just a .111 hitting percentage and committed 19 errors through three sets which proved to be a difference maker.
In the middle stages of the second set, SWOSU found themselves trailing big by near double digits but stormed back to get within one point at 22-21. ASU called timeout during the run and regained their momentum, stopping the ferocious comeback and claiming the set victory.
In the third and final set, the Bulldogs hit -.056 with nine errors which deflated any comeback attempt they planned on conjuring.
Addie Aman collected eight kills in the match, immediately followed by
DeLayni Fine with seven.
Kodee Avery assisted on 27 points and
Kaitlyn Dillon dug 10 balls on defense.
