WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Volleyball capped off a perfect week of Great American Conference play Friday evening, outlasting Southern Arkansas in five sets (25-21, 15-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13) inside the Pioneer Event Center.
The Bulldogs recorded a season-high 15 blocks in the victory, securing their first five-set conference win of the season and completing a 2-0 week against GAC opponents. SWOSU improved to 14-9 overall and 7-4 in league play.
Katja Blanchat led the Bulldogs with a career-high 18 kills on a .417 hitting percentage while tying her season high with seven blocks. Layla Collins followed with 17 kills, and Sydnee Winfrey contributed 11 kills and six blocks. Madeline Harris also finished with six blocks, while Mackenzie Sims added four.
Sims directed the offense with 50 assists and 15 digs to go along with three service aces. Jada Permenter led the defensive effort with 21 digs, while Libbie Hughs recorded a season-high 14 digs and Willow Deckinger chipped in 11.
SWOSU took the opening set 25-21 before Southern Arkansas responded with a 25-15 victory in the second. The Bulldogs regained control in the third, hitting .393 with just one attack error to claim a 25-17 win and move within a set of victory.
The Muleriders kept the match alive with a 25-22 win in the fourth, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the final frame, the teams battled through an 8-8 tie before SWOSU put together a 6-0 run to take a 14-8 advantage. Southern Arkansas responded with five consecutive points to cut the deficit to one, but Blanchat delivered the match-winning kill to secure the 15-13 victory.
SWOSU finished with 59 kills and a .220 hitting percentage while holding Southern Arkansas to a .140 clip. The Bulldogs also totaled 78 digs and six service aces in the win.
The victory followed Thursday's four-set win over Arkansas-Monticello, giving SWOSU consecutive conference victories to close out its two-match homestand.
SWOSU will play its lone match of next week on Thursday, October 22, when Southern Nazarene visits the Pioneer Event Center for a 6 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs won the first meeting between the teams 3-1 in early September.
