Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Middle Blockers Power SFA Past Lamar
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team got a powerful one-two punch from their middle blockers to defeat Lamar in straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) on Saturday afternoon in Shelton Gym. The Ladyjacks improve to a Southland Conference best 11-0 with their ninth sweep in SLC action.
Junior Jacque Allen and sophomore Justice Walker were lights out for the Ladyjacks (18-7, 11-0 SLC) in the middle of the court all afternoon long. The pair posted 10 kills apiece with Allen firing at a .667 clip and Walker swinging .421. The middles committed just two errors combined in the attack and helped SFA to another efficient hitting percentage as a team (.327).
Walker has now notched double-figure kills in six of the last seven matches.
"I feel that in the middle play on the court this afternoon you have four of the best middles in the Southland Conference," said head coach Debbie Humphreys. "They're all extremely dynamic athletes, they've all got good arm swings and they have a very big blocking presence. For both of our middles to come out and get double-digit kills against two other quality players at that position - it was just really great to see."
Senior Paige Holland was able to find her two teammates with pinpoint sets over the course of the match and finished with 39 assists on the afternoon.
Junior Keeley Kainer and senior Jill Ivy helped SFA edge Lamar (3-18, 3-6 SLC) in the opening frame 25-23 with five and four kills, respectively. The Ladyjacks and the Lady Cardinals traded points from start to finish in set two - a period which saw 14 ties and five lead changes - with SFA prevailing 25-21. After the break, Allen got going in the attack, recording seven kills in the final set alone.
Ivy finished the match with eight kills, Kainer finished with seven and junior Tori Bates added six for the Ladyjacks.
Defensively, junior OJ Olson continued her outstanding back line play with a 17-dig afternoon. Senior Janet Hill chipped in eight digs while freshman Lexus Cain tallied six.
SFA ends a three-match week at a perfect 3-0 mark and will have a week to recover before hosting undefeated Central Arkansas next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
"This has been such a crazy week with the three matches," Humphreys said. "It's been grueling not only physically but mentally. Just the intensity of it and making sure the girls stay ready. We're really looking forward to the match up here on Saturday."
-SFA-
