ADA, Okla. – SWOSU Volleyball snapped its three-game skid with a win over East Central. After dropping the first set, the Bulldogs responded by winning the next three sets in dominating fashion.
For the Dawgs, this was a much-needed win in Ada, as they had not won inside the Kerr Activities Center in their last two tries. East Central was the only Oklahoma GAC school that SWOSU had not defeated in its own building over the last two seasons.
Haley Thomas and Madeline Harris each saw their most action of the young GAC season tonight. Thomas, a setter, helped facilitate the offense with 11 assists while adding a season-high three aces. Harris, a right side, totaled seven kills while hitting .417 and added four block assists, both season-high marks.
The first set of Thursday's action went in favor of the Orange Tigers, 25-19. ECU hit their own game-high .316 in the opening frame while adding two aces. The Dawgs hit just .200 and committed two service errors.
SWOSU switched up its lineup in the second set, bringing in the two first-year players mentioned earlier, and the game shifted in the Dawgs' favor. The Bulldogs hit .364 in the second set, recording a game-high 14 kills and five blocks in the frame.
The Bulldogs trailed just once over the remaining two sets. The third was controlled by the Dawgs by roughly five points throughout, as both teams hit below .100 and committed three or more service errors. SWOSU was still able to close it out. The closing set got ugly quickly. After the Dawgs took a 6-3 lead, a pivotal service run by Thomas pushed the lead into double digits early, allowing SWOSU to cruise to the win on Thursday night.
It was a team effort tonight, as nobody had more than 10 kills, but five players recorded at least seven. Morgan Ritchie (9), Layla Collins (8), and Jenna Houk (8) led the way, while Katja Blanchat added seven kills without committing an error and recorded a team-high six block assists. Libero Jada Permenter added a team-high 17 digs.
SWOSU totaled 11 blocks, their second most of the season, just behind the 12 block performance against Missouri-St. Louis last week.
The Bulldogs (8-6, 2-1 GAC) will be back at home on Tuesday, September 22, hosting Southeastern at 6:00 p.m. inside the PEC.
