Southland Conference Weekly Update
10/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2000
Southland Weekly Volleyball for Oct. 2, 2000
Southwest Texas Rides Along on Nine-Match Win Streak Enjoying the view from atop the Southland Conference standings, Southwest Texas extended its winning streak to nine with three wins last week. SWT didn't drop a game all week, starting with a sweep of Texas Christian Tuesday. Then on the road, the Bobcats defeated McNeese State and Lamar. The last time SWT dropped a game was the opening round at UTA on Sept. 16. Since then, the 'Cats have won 21 consecutive games. The 15-3 start ties the 1998 squad for the best start in school history. Jennifer Dallao, the Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, led on both offense and defense with 3.44 kills per game, a .324 hitting percentage, 3.77 digs per game, four block solos and 10 block assists. In the TCU match, Natalie Spann posted an impressive .600 hit% while dishing out a match-high 42 assists. SWT meets third-place UTSA in San Antonio tomorrow night.
After losing the first two games to SMU last Tuesday, Texas-Arlington found a new life after the intermission, coming back to win the match, 3-2. UTA added a win at Sam Houston State to go 2-0 and move into second place in the Southland. Trisha Walker was tough on defense with 5.6 digs per game, one block solo and seven block assists. She moved into 8th place on UTA's career digs list with 1,246. Amber Pack helped in the two road wins with a .329 hit% and 4.75 kpg.
Texas-San Antonio made a move up the standings into third with a pair of road wins. Tamara Luckemeyer became a member of the 20-20 club when she hit 25 kills and dug 21 attempts against McNeese State. Four different Roadrunners posted 20-plus kills on the weekend with Charlsie Heifrin accomplishing the feat twice. Heifrin, who has been tapped the Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, averaged 5.375 kpg and had a .387 hit%. Stacy Schmidt dug 6.125 attempts per game and added three block assists.
Anissa Parker is rewriting the record book at McNeese State. She broke her third career record this year when she became the career kills leader in the contest with UTSA. She led the Cowgirls with 24 kills in the loss, and now has 1,603 kills to her credit. Parker, who also holds the marks for career attempts and digs, is only the second MCN player to hold three career records. McNeese slipped into fourth with two Conference losses last week.
Stephen F. Austin made good use of its lone match, sweeping SHSU on Friday. Kristy Rhodes posted 6.67 kpg and a .439 hit% while Jenny Orndorff added 3.67 dpg. The Ladyjacks can make up some ground this week when they face UTSA, Louisiana-Monroe and Northwestern State.
Southeastern Louisiana moved up two spots to sixth in the Conference as the Lady Lions went 4-0 with wins over SHSU, ULM, NWLa., and Centenary. These four straight road victories were the most since joining the Southland in 1997. Denise Kubena's 4.40 dpg and Mandy Withrow's 34 kills helped SLU exact revenge on NWLa. Saturday in Natchitoches after they dropped a five-game thriller to the Demons on Sept. 12.
Speaking of Northwestern State, it split its two matches, defeating Nicholls State before losing to SLU. April George (13 kills, .556 hit%) and Christina Stone (14 kills, .480 hit%) led the Demons' offense against Nicholls. They host Louisiana Tech in a non-conference contest tomorrow, then head back into Southland action on the road.
After falling to Tulane earlier in the week, Nicholls State earned a win over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday. ULM and SHSU are still winless in the Southland as both teams went 0-3 last week. The schedule isn't any easier this week as they meet teams in the top half of the Conference.
Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week Charlsie Heifrin * freshman * middle blocker * Texas-San Antonio For the second consecutive week, Charlsie Heifrin has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors in the Southland. The Red Oak, Texas, freshman recorded double-digit kills in two Conference matches (22 vs. Lamar and 21 vs. McNeese State) for a .387 attack percentage and 5.375 kills per game. UTSA went 2-0 to climb back into the top three in the Conference.
Also nominated: Mandy Withrow, SLU, Kristy Rhodes, SFA, Jennifer Dallao, SWT, Amber Pack, UTA.
Previous winners: Brigette Birdwell, LU, Kristy Rhodes, SFA, Anissa Parker, McN, Charlsie Heifrin, UTSA.
Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week Jennifer Dallao * senior * outside hitter * Southwest Texas Leading Southwest Texas to three wins (two in conference and one against Texas Christian), Jennifer Dallao has been tapped this week's Southland Defensive Player of the Week. In nine games, she registered 3.77 digs per game, four block solos and six block assists as SWT extended its winning streak to nine.
Also nominated: Denise Kubena, SLU, Jenny Orndorff, SFA, Trisha Walker, UTA, Stacy Schmidt, UTSA.
Previous winners: Natalie Sarver, LU, Jennifer Dallao, SWT, Shauna Stahl, SWT, Trisha Walker, UTA.
-SLC-
