Stephen F. Austin
Montana
SFA Falls To Grizzlies In Middle Match At SMU Tournament
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 5, 2008
DALLAS, Texas - The Ladyjack volleyball team came out on fire, but could not withstand a scrappy group of Grizzlies as Montana pulled out a 3-1 (15-25, ....) win in SFA's second match of the SMU Radisson Invitational.
The SFA senior tandem of Shelly Swendig and Lauren Railey combined for 37 kills between them as SFA tallied more in the kill column as a team than Montana, 64-63. However, the Grizzlies hit .279 over the final three sets compared to SFA's .203 clip.
SFA made quick work of the Grizzlies in the first set, scoring the first five points and never looking back. Montana, who was coming off a three-set loss to SMU only a few hours before, was held to only a .081 hitting percentage for the set by the Ladyjacks and were never any closer than four points. SFA, on the other hand, hit .333 in the frame and it was Ashley Bailey that carried the hot hand late in the set, having a hand in four of the last five Ladyjack points of the set with three kills and a block.
The Grizzlies responded, though, and took the second set to knot things up heading into the break. Montana was able to hold on to the momentum, too, after SFA was unable to capitalize on a set point at 24-23 in the third frame, but the Ladyjacks aided the Grizzlies' cause with three errors in the final four points to let the set slip through their fingertips.
Action in the final set was entertaining, as the teams combined for six combined set points before Montana was finally able to put together back-to-back kills for the win.
Whitney Schott set a new career high with 47 assists, while Swendig and Railey each picked up double-doubles by being two of four Ladyjacks with at least 10 digs on the evening.
SFA concludes the SMU Radisson Invitational on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. versus SMU. The match can be followed via Gametracker at www.sfajacks.com, or by clicking on the SMU Radisson Invitational link on the left side of the home page at www.smumustangs.com.
-SFA-
