Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana Tech
Ladyjacks Take Home Opener, Win 3-2
9/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2013
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Junior Jill Ivy recorded 19 kills and the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team knocked off Louisiana Tech 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 15-12) in the home opener Tuesday night in Shelton Gym.
SFA (6-2) improved to 17-7 all-time against the Lady Techsters (4-4), getting the win in the first meeting between the two schools since 2008. The 3-2 win is the fifth out of eight matches to go five sets.
Ivy's 19 kills paced the SFA attack that swung a .168 clip across the five sets. Middle blockers Leslie Jackson (13) and Justice Walker (10) also recorded double-figure kills in the victory. The 13 kills for Jackson tied her career-high previously set in a 2-3 loss to Portland (9/3/10) as a freshman.
Junior Paige Holland finished with 48 assists to record her fourth match with over 40 assists on the season. Sophomore OJ Olson was of four Ladyjacks to record double-figure digs, finishing with 27. Olson was joined by Madison Martin (15), Janet Hill (11) and Kaitlyn Granger (10). SFA finished with eight blocks as a team.
SFA, despite several ties in the second set, never relinquished the lead and took a 2-0 advantage into intermission, but were unable to close out LA Tech in the third set.
Junior Xzache Mathis recorded 11 combined kills across the third and fourth set to help the Lady Techsters even the match and force a fifth and deciding set.
The Ladyjacks, after jumping out to a 6-0, found themselves in an 8-7 advantage at the swing. SFA outscored LA Tech 7-5 down the stretch to claim the 15-12 match clinching victory.
SFA will retake the road, traveling to Fort Worth for TCU Nike/Molten Invitational. The Ladyjacks will play tournament-host TCU in a televised game on Fox Sports Southwest at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
-SFA-
