Third Time is Not a Charm
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2001
BEAUMONT, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team lost a heartbreaker to Texas-Arlington Sunday night, 3-2 (30-22, 28-30, 23-30, 30-27, 15-12) at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas. The Ladyjacks finish the season 23-8.
Defense was the deciding factor in the first two games. The Mavericks took game one, 30-22, behind 12 total blocks led by Elizabeth Davis' five blocks. In game two, the SFA turned the tables on the Mavericks by recording 10 blocks for the 30-28 win. Five different Ladyjacks recorded blocks in game two, led by junior Jennifer Wilson's (Friendswood, Texas) three.
The SFA offense was slow getting started in the first game but it got better as the match went along (game one - .100, game two - .229 and game three - .278). The Ladyjacks jumped out to a 2-1 lead behind sophomore Kelly Gorychka's (Austin, Texas) six kills (.455 attack percentage) and five digs in game three. She finished the match with 11 kills and 16 digs.
Despite the Ladyjacks 11 game-four blocks, UTA fought back to tie the match at two. The Mavericks hit .290 as a team in game four led by Carol Bozikis and Amber Pack's nine kills on 19 attempts (.368 attack percentage).
The Mavericks outlasted SFA, 15-12, in game five for the match and the automatic berth in the NCAA Championships.
"I was proud of the girls effort but we just came up a little short," said SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys. "It is a little frustrating because we had our chance at the regular season title and the conference tournament both within in a week and came up short. All in all we had a successful season. This is a great group of young ladies that I had the privilege of working with this season."
Senior Kristy Rhodes (Cypress, Texas) and junior Angie Wood (Houston, Texas) were named to the 2001 Southland Conference All-Tournament team. Rhodes concluded her career with a 21-kill, 18-dig and three-block night.
