Stephen F. Austin
Northwestern State
Defense Lifts SFA to Ninth Straight Win
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team grinded out another impressive Southland Conference sweep on Tuesday night, downing Northwestern State 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-16) in Shelton Gym. The win marks the eighth, straight-set victory for the Ladyjacks to start the SLC season and the squad has won 27 of 28 sets overall in the span to improve on the best set start in SFA history.
The Ladyjacks (16-7, 9-0) relied on great defensive effort and scrappy play to stay in the match over the first two sets. Despite hitting under .100 over the two frames combined, SFA was able to quiet the Lady Demons' attack for most of the night.
Juniors OJ Olson and Madison Martin recorded 16 and 10 digs, respectively, to lead the SFA back line. Jacque Allen had a hand in five blocks and senior Jill Ivy chipped in three blocks, eight digs and three service aces to play a big role for the Ladyjacks defensively.
With Ivy at the service line late in the second set, SFA was able to erase a four-point deficit to tie the match at 19-19. The tough serving over the stretch brought momentum back to the Ladyjacks, who closed out the second set 25-23.
That momentum carried over to the third set after the break. SFA came out hitting .344 in the set and never trailed en route to a 25-16 win to secure the 3-0 sweep.
"It was a very competitive match like we knew it was going to be," said head coach Debbie Humphreys. "The first couple of sets our offense wasn't as sharp as it has been over the past few weeks but we did step up in that area and played a very good third set."
The Ladyjacks used a very balanced attack on the evening with seven players claiming a kill. Ivy had a match-high nine winners while McIntyre and Bates each contributed seven. Senior Paige Holland added six kills in 12 attempts and tallied 30 assists for SFA.
The Lady Demons (9-13, 6-3 SLC) finished with a .103 team attack percentage and committed 35 total errors in the match due in large part to the SFA defensive pressure.
SFA is now 45-3 all-time against NWLA - the best winning percentage for the Ladyjacks against any team in the SLC.
The Ladyjacks will continue the current homestand with matches against rival Sam Houston State on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and Lamar on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. in Shelton Gym.
-SFA-
