Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern State
Ladyjacks Open Conference With Sweep
9/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Ladyjacks got 11 kills apiece from Ashley Bailey and Kelsey Owens as they cruised to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-19) win over Northwestern State in the opening match of Southland Conference play on Saturday.
The win is the 35th consecutive victory for SFA (12-6, 1-0 Southland) over the Demons (1-10, 0-3 Southland), who were coming off of a four-set loss at McNeese on Friday in Lake Charles. The Ladyjacks have never lost to the Demons in the all-time series.
It was a balanced effort across the board from the Ladyjacks as they were also able to get five kills apiece from Mary Caitlin Bottles, Arielle Daron and Amber Williams-Roberts. SFA finished with a .278 attack percentage for the match, only the second time in a 12-match span dating back to Sept. 4 against Memphis that they hit over .250.
Conversely, the Demons were only able to muster a .112 percentage on their side despite a match-high 12 kills from outside hitter Yelena Enwere. It is the eighth straight match SFA has held its opponent under .250 hitting, with seven of those matches being under .125.
The two-headed setting attack of Laurel Kuepker and Paloma Buckner was back in full force on Saturday as well, with Kuepker doling out 17 assists and Buckner 16. Madison Hanlan led the Ladyjacks with 13 digs and Bottles topped the team with five block assists. SFA finished with seven blocks for the match as opposed to just one for the Demons.
SFA never trailed in either of the first two sets, hitting .306 behind six kills from Bailey, who did not commit a single error on 18 swings. The Demons put up more of a fight in the final set, however, but still could not withstand a late push from SFA as Bailey and Owens landed five kills apiece in the final frame.
The Ladyjacks now gear up for Central Arkansas in another Southland Conference match on Monday at 7:00 p.m.
-SFA-
