Southland Conference Weekly Update
10/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 9, 2000
Southland Weekly Volleyball, Oct. 9, 2000
Southwest Texas Earns No. 9 Regional Ranking, Extends Streak to 11 The NCAA released its first women's volleyball regional polls of the season last week and Southwest Texas is ranked ninth in the Central Region. "I'm elated and shocked to have the No. 9 ranking," SWT Head Coach Karen Chisum said. "It's not that we aren't deserving, but the Southland Conference never gets the recognition it deserves in volleyball. I've been on these committees before. In the past, SWT was in the western region and got very little respect. Now, we're in the central and the Big 12 knows us better and has more respect for us, giving us a better chance for such a ranking."
The Bobcats have now strung together 11 straight victories. SWT has won 27 consecutive games, and 33 of the last 34. The 'Cats have tied their all-time best start from 1998 with a 16-3 overall record. They have also tied their best Southland Conference record at 9-0, which is how they finished in 1991.
Southwest Texas scored sweeps against Texas-San Antonio and Sam Houston State last week. Laura Ivy paced the Bobcats on offense with a .643 hitting percentage while Tiffany Weidner dug 5.33 attempts per game. SWT continues a four-match homestand this weekend with dates against Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State. The next time SWT could face some tough Conference competition will be at the end of the month. That's when Lamar, Texas-Arlington and Stephen F. Austin all come calling in San Marcos.
UTA, the No. 2 team in the Conference, rang up three Southland wins to extend its own winning streak to a season-best seven matches (six in the Southland). The Mavericks, whose only Conference loss is to SWT, improved to 7-1 with sweeps of Northwestern State and Louisiana-Monroe. UTA had to hold off Stephen F. Austin last Tuesday as the Ladyjacks rallied in the fourth game, 15-10. The Mavs responded with a .368 attack percentage in the fifth game to close out the victory. Trisha Walker took the lead in team kills for the season by hitting 46 in 11 games for an average of 4.18 kills per game. Walker is also ranked tenth in the nation in digs per game. Amber Pack, who was equally impressive on offense and defense, had a .361 hit%, 4.3 kpg, 38 digs, and three total blocks.
After the loss to Southwest Texas early in the week, Texas-San Antonio swept Sam Houston State to maintain its third-place standing with a 6-3 record. The Roadrunners, who lead the Conference in kills, assists and digs, are ranked nationally in all three categories. Natasha Biggers (assists), Charlsie Heifrin (blocks) and Stacy Schmidt (digs) are all ranked in the country as well.
Stephen F. Austin is tied for third with UTSA after going 2-1 last week. The Ladyjacks dropped the five-gamer to UTA and then notched sweeps against ULM and Northwestern State. Jennifer Wilson led the SFA attack with a .520 hit% behind 31 kills. Marissa Dorcheus, who is currently the No. 2 setter in the country with 14.82 assists per game, recorded 29 digs and two block assists. League-leader Kristy Rhodes is ranked ninth in the nation with 5.58 kills per game.
Lamar made a move into a fifth-place tie with McNeese State with two Southland wins last week. The Lady Cardinals didn't drop a game against Prairie View A&M in non-conference action, then swept Nicholls. On Saturday in Hammond, La., LU came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Southeastern Louisiana in five. Shanda Hart was both an offensive and defensive weapon as she dug 4.2 attempts per game, tallied one block solo and three block assists, hit .301 for 3.1 kpg, and served five aces. In the SLU match, she recorded a career-high 25 digs.
McNeese State split its matches with a loss at SLU and a win at NICH, which snapped a four-match losing streak. Lisa Dupont had 29 digs against SLU, 43 for the weekend. Anissa Parker is No. 17 in the NCAA with 5.04 kpg.
Freshman Lu Neves came off the bench to spark Southeastern Louisiana in a decisive game three with McNeese. Neves rallied the squad from an 11-4 deficit, propelling them to a 15-11 win. The Lady Lions won in four and extended their winning streak to five matches. That streak ended the next day at the hands of Lamar in a 3-2 loss.
Four Southland teams have a less than .500 record. Northwestern State is on a four-match road swing and will meet Sam Houston State Thursday before stepping outside the Southland for a contest at TAMU-Corpus Christi. Nicholls State has dropped three straight and will host SLU tomorrow. After defeating Nicholls on Oct. 3, SHSU lost to two of the three top teams in SWT and UTSA. The Bearkats host NWLa. and ULM this weekend. The Lady Indians could find their first Conference win on Friday night in Huntsville, Texas.
Offensive Player of the Week Laura Ivy * senior * middle blocker * Southwest Texas Laura Ivy, a senior from Arlington, Texas, led Southwest Texas to two Southland Conference wins and helped the Bobcats extend their winning streak to 11 consecutive victories by posting an incredible .643 hitting percentage last week. Ivy, who is second in the Southland in hitting percentage, recorded 3.17 kills per game and only one attack error as SWT swept Texas-San Antonio and Sam Houston State.
Also nominated: Shanda Hart, LU, Jennifer Wilson, SFA, Trisha Walker, UTA.
Previous winners: Brigette Birdwell, LU, Kristy Rhodes, SFA, Anissa Parker, McN, Charlsie Heifrin, UTSA (twice).
Defensive Player of the Week Shanda Hart * sophomore * outside hitter * Lamar Shanda Hart, a sophomore from Logan, Utah, registered 4.2 digs per game, helping Lamar to three wins last week. Hart, who had a career-high 25 digs against Southeastern Louisiana, added one block solo and three block assists in victories over Prairie View A&M, and Southland opponents Nicholls State and SLU.
Also nominated: Lisa Dupont, McN, Marissa Dorcheus, SFA, Tiffany Weidner, SWT, Amber Pack, UTA.
Previous winners: Natalie Sarver, LU, Jennifer Dallao, SWT, Shauna Stahl, SWT, Trisha Walker, UTA, Jennifer Dallao, SWT. -SLC-
