Stephen F. Austin
Texas State
Southland Conference Champions
11/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 5, 2005
SAN MARCOS - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team clinched the Southland Conference title when it defeated Texas State, 3-1, in a three-hour battle at Strahan Coliseum Saturday night, giving SFA their 17th straight win.
The victory gives SFA a 24-2 (.923) overall record while leaving them flawless with a 16-0 SLC mark. Texas State fell to 14-11 overall and 12-4 in league action.
After winning Game 1, 30-24, the Ladyjacks gave up two straight to the Bobcats, 30-27 and 30-26. SFA rallied back in Game 4, 30-28, to force the tiebreaker. The Ladyjacks and Bobcats battled it out in Game 5 before SFA took the overtime win, 20-18.
"We did some good things," said SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys, whose team won its second consecutive and fifth overall SLC title. "We weren't extremely sharp, but the kids found a way to win. It was a weird, weird match. We were pushed, which is what we needed this late in the season."
McKinney, Texas, native, Lauren Railey led the way for the Ladyjacks with 23 kills, tying her career-high, which she originally set against Texas State last week in Nacogdoches. Defensively, she nabbed 22 digs to earn her 12th double-double of the season. Collecting four total blocks, Railey led both squads with a season-high three service aces.
Sophomore JJ Jones set a season high with 65 assists. She also chipped in 18 digs, four kills, and three total blocks on the night.
In addition to Jones and Railey, three other Ladyjacks added double-digit digs. Junior Stephanie Figgers collected 34 digs, which ties the fourth-best mark in school history. It's the second time this season she's recorded over 30 digs in a match.
Sophomore Jami Hill collected 11 digs while Laura Cramer had 25. Together with 19 kills, Cramer earned her 15th double-double of her junior season.
Senior Jessica Watson and sophomore Traci Rohde had the most blocks on both sides. Watson collected six while Rohde had a match-high seven, including one solo.
"Every person who dressed out played and had a part in this championship match," said Humphreys. "I'm happy for the girls and I'm proud of what they're doing."
The Ladyjacks return to the court for their final home match of the 2005 season on Tuesday when they host Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m. at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
-SFA-
