Great American Conference Volleyball Quarterfinals

(3) SWOSU vs (6) East Central

Nov. 16 || 10:00 a.m. || Hot Springs, Ark. (Bank OZK Arena)

Tournament Home Page

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – SWOSU Volleyball travels to the Great American Conference Championships this week, set to play out Thursday-Saturday at the Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
 
An awards banquet preceding the tournament will commence on Wednesday evening to announce all-conference teams & specialty winners.
 
SWOSU is 9-11 overall in the conference's postseason tournament since 2011. The Dawgs are 7-5 in quarterfinal matchups and have advanced to the semifinals in each of the last three seasons. The program's lone tournament championship came in 2015. 

The Bulldogs enter the field as the No. 3 seed and will faceoff against 6-seeded East Central in the tournament's opening quarterfinal match at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. SWOSU has defeated the Tigers twice this season – a five-set victory in Ada back on September 19 which began league play and most recently a 3-0 victory at home on October 26.
 
SWOSU is 22-7 all-time against East Central but the two have never matched up in the GAC's postseason.
 
The Dawg offense has been led all season by Lacy Mott who is averaging 3.39 kills per set – fifth in the GAC – on a .221 hitting percentage. She has 15 double-doubles, averaging 3.51 digs per set.  
 
As a team, SWOSU's .193 hitting percentage ranks them sixth in the league and their 11.60 assists per set is third.
 
While the offense is, and has been formidable, the defense has been at times dominant. SWOSU holds its opponents to a .149 collective hitting mark and is posting 2.12 blocks per set – both third in the league.
 
The block has been held steady all season by Zoey Sparks and Hailey Smith. Sparks leads the GAC with 1.22 blocks per set (131 total) and is 13th nationally. Smith is sixth in the league at 0.89 blocks per set, 89 total.  
 
If the ball goes past the block, freshman Libero Jada Permenter has been there. She is averaging 4.51 digs per set ranking fifth in the GAC. She's the youngest player ranked the highest on that digs list
 
Should the Bulldogs defeat East Central, they would play the winner of (2) Oklahoma Baptist and (7) Ouachita Baptist in the semifinals. That match would serve at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. See field preview and full schedule below.
 

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The Field
 
(1) Harding 18-10, 13-3 GAC

• Dawgs are 6-14 all-time vs HU
• SWOSU defeated the Bisons 3-1 this season back on 10/13

(2) Oklahoma Baptist 19-8, 13-3 GAC

• Dawgs are 4-18 all-time vs OKBU
• SWOSU was swept this season by the Bison in a pair of 5-set matches

(4) Henderson State, 19-10, 10-6

• Dawgs are 13-3 all-time vs HSU
• SWOSU defeated the Reddies 3-2 this season on 10/5

(5) Southern Arkansas, 15-3, 9-7 GAC

• Dawgs are 11-4 all-time vs SAU
• SWOSU fell in five to the Muleriders this season on 10/20

(6) East Central, 14-14, 9-7 GAC

• Dawgs are 22-7 all-time vs ECU
• SWOSU swept the Tigers this season (3-2 on 9/19 in Ada, 3-0 on 10/26 in Weatherford)

(7) Ouachita Baptist, 17-14, 9-7 GAC

• Dawgs are 7-10 all-time vs OUA
• SWOSU defeated the Tigers 3-2 this season on 10/6

(8) Southeastern Oklahoma State, 12-16, 7-9 GAC

• Dawgs are 23-13 all-time vs SE
• SWOSU swept the Savage Storm this season (3-1 on 9/21 in Weatherford, 3-0 on 10/31 in Durant)

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2023 GAC Volleyball Championships Schedule

Thursday, November 16
Quarterfinal #1: 10:00 AM - No. 3 Southwestern Oklahoma State  vs. No. 6 East Central
Quarterfinal #2: 12:30 PM - No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist vs. No. 7 Ouachita Baptist
Quarterfinal #3: 3:00 PM - No. 1 Harding  vs. No. 8 Southeastern Oklahoma State
Quarterfinal #4: 5:30 PM - No. 4 Henderson State vs. No. 5 Southern Arkansas

Friday, November 17
Semifinal #1: 2:00 PM - Winner of Quarterfinal #1 vs Winner of Quarterfinal #2
Semifinal #2: 5:00 PM - Winner of Quarterfinal #3 vs Winner of Quarterfinal #4

Saturday, November 18
Final: 3:00 PM - Winner of Semifinal #1 vs Winner of Semifinal #2