Stephen F. Austin
New Orleans
Ivy Reaches Career Mark, Ladyjacks Roll
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team excelled in every phase of the game on Saturday afternoon to run away with a straight set victory over New Orleans (25-12, 25-15, 25-11) in Shelton Gym. At the midway point in the Southland Conference season, the Ladyjacks are a perfect 8-0 and have won 24 of 25 sets. It is the best start in conference for SFA since 2007.
Senior Jill Ivy recorded nine kills in the match to pass MC Bottles (2008-11) for 10th on SFA's all-time career kills list. With 280 kills so far in 2014, Ivy sits at 1,261 over her four-year career - 39 kills shy of Traci Rohde (2004-07) for ninth all-time.
Sophomore Justice Walker, the Ladyjacks' hottest hitter over the last two weeks, joined Ivy with a big afternoon offensively. She posted a match-high 12 kills, committed just one error and hit at a .688 clip. While a force on offense, Walker also led the team with six blocks on the afternoon.
The Ladyjacks (15-7, 8-0 SLC) turned in their most efficient hitting performance of the season, swinging .487 in the attack for the match. The impressive mark shattered the previous season-high of .368 set against New Orleans back on Sept. 12. SFA committed just six attacking errors in the match - also a season-best.
"I feel like we came in and did exactly what we needed to do today," said head coach Debbie Humphreys. "We continued to execute at a really high level on our side of the court. That was our biggest focus coming into this match."
Freshman Abby McIntyre had a huge day for SFA off the bench, going 6-for-6 on the attack in two sets played.
"The last couple of weeks at practice Abby has really started to get things going," Humphreys said. "Today was really big for her - to go in, have some success and play at that same high level was great to see."
The hitting clinic was put on thanks in large part to senior Paige Holland. The setter was able to find her hitters all over the court and recorded 36 assists in the match overall. Holland also dumped in four kills of her own and had four digs for SFA.
The Ladyjacks held the Privateers (6-17, 0-9 SLC) to a .033 hitting percentage on the day and service pressure was a huge factor. SFA got eight service aces in the match, including three from junior Tori Bates.
Junior OJ Olson led the way with 15 digs and Bates also chipped in five rejections at the net to join Walker in the SFA block.
"Today got us halfway through the conference schedule," Humphreys said. "We've had a very successful first half but there's a lot of volleyball remaining. One of the reasons we're improving at such a fast pace this season is our depth that you saw today. We have quality players on the other side of the net every single day in practice so we get to compete at a high level every day."
The Ladyjacks have a big week upcoming as they host Northwestern State, Sam Houston State and Lamar on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively. SFA will meet the Lady Demons of NWLA in Shelton Gym on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. to start the home stretch.
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