Stephen F. Austin
New Mexico (New Mexico Tournament)
Ladyjacks Win New Mexico Tournament
8/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Junior Traci Rohde posted a career day Saturday in leading the SFA Ladyjacks to a pair of victories and the tournament championship at the Hilton Albuquerque Tournament, hosted by the University of New Mexico. Rohde notched a career-high 22 kills in SFA's 3-1 win over Utah State (30-27, 30-20, 28-30, 30-11) Saturday morning, then put away 15 kills in the Ladyjacks' title-clinching 3-1 win over host team New Mexico (30-19, 30-16, 28-30, 30-17) in the nightcap. The victories improve SFA's record to 3-0 for the year.
Rohde, a 6-2 middle blocker, hit .475 against Utah State, a new career-best for her in matches with more than 30 attacks. She also recorded a match-high six block assists in the victory. Sophomore Lauren Railey recorded SFA's first double-double of the season, recording 14 kills and 13 digs. Classmate Shelly Swendig also reached double-figure kills with 10, and senior libero Stephanie Figgers dug out a match-high 23 balls in the backcourt. As a team, the Ladyjacks hit .240 for the match while holding the Aggies to a .097 attack percentage.
Utah State got out to an early 4-0 advantage and led by as many as six points. But the Ladyjacks fought back to tie the score at 16. The scoring was a see-saw battle from there, with SFA eventually gaining the edge and a 30-27 verdict. Railey recorded three of her five kills down the stretch to help secure the win.
In the second game, the Ladyjacks again fell behind early, but recovered quickly and took command by the time the score reached double figures. Rohde hit .556 in the game with six kills. Railey and freshman Kelsie Heppler added three kills apiece, with Heppler hitting a near-perfect .750 on four attacks with no errors. After SFA's comfortable 30-20 victory, however, Utah State struck back.
The Aggies took a narrow 30-28 win in an ugly Game 3, when neither team could find its rhythm. Utah State hit just .067 for the game, but it was enough to edge out the Ladyjacks, who struggled to a .053 hitting percentage.
The Ladyjacks recovered nicely in Game 4, though, and thumped Utah State soundly, 30-11, for the victory. SFA hit .440 in the decisive game and forced the Aggies into a miserable -.040 performance. Rohde led the way with five kills and two block assists in a game that was over almost before it started. The Ladyjacks opened with a 6-0 edge and never looked back, leading by double figures for most of the game.
In their second match of the day, the Ladyjacks looked primed for a sweep after making quick work of the Lobos in the first two games. But New Mexico fought back for a two-point win in Game 3. The Lobos' comeback bid fell short, though, when they succumbed to a 30-17 defeat in the clincher. The Ladyjacks hit just .139 in the decisive fourth game, but forced New Mexico into 15 errors and a -.211 attack percentage. Senior Laura Cramer recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs for the match, adding some punch to Rohde's potent attacks. SFA hit .219 for the match to New Mexico's -0.14.
In Game 1, the Ladyjacks tied the score at 10, then went on a 10-2 run to take a comfortable 20-12 lead. Rohde and Cramer recorded three kills each in the vital. Rohde went on to post nine kills in SFA's 30-19 win.
SFA picked up the second game right where it had left off the first. The Ladyjacks jumped out to a 6-0 lead and quickly stretched their edge to the final margin of 14, keeping New Mexico at arm's length down the stretch. The Ladyjacks hit .258 for the game, led by Rohde, Railey and Heppler, who recorded three digs apiece.
The Lobos answered with a gritty performance in Game 3. They opened a small lead early, then clung to it with SFA nipping at their heels for the duration of the 30-28 victory. New Mexico never led by more than four points, and the Ladyjacks actually managed to take a 15-13 lead, but it was short-lived.
SFA played New Mexico closely in the fourth game, and the Lobos held a 12-10 lead at one point. But the Ladyjacks won 10 of the next 11 points to take charge and didn't let the Lobos back into contention. Cramer led the Ladyjacks with four kills in the game.
Three Ladyjacks were named all-tournament players. Setter J.J. Jones and Rohde both made the all-tournament squad, while Railey was named tournament MVP.
SFA will return to action next weekend, when it travels to Fayetteville, Ark. for three matches in the Arkansas Invitational. The Ladyjacks will kick things off with a pair of matches on Friday, Sept. 1. SFA will meet Sacramento State at noon, then take on host team Arkansas at 7 p.m.
-- SFA --
