Stephen F. Austin
Incarnate Word
SFA Caps Undefeated SLC Regular Season
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - For the first time since 2006, the Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team has finished the Southland Conference regular season with a perfect 16-0 record. The Ladyjacks defeated Incarnate Word 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-23) to cap one of the best regular seasons in program history.
The Ladyjacks (23-7, 16-0 SLC) clinched the outright SLC title earlier in the week and own the number one seed heading into the conference tournament on Nov. 21. They will play Nicholls State that Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
The sweep of UIW (10-20, 6-10 SLC) is the team's 13th of the SLC season which ties the SFA record for most straight set victories in a conference slate. The Ladyjacks dropped just four sets played in league action overall for a mark of 48-4 - the best efficiency in program history.
In a match where neither team hit at an efficient level as a whole, senior Jill Ivy and sophomore Justice Walker really shined. The duo had nine kills each. Junior Jacque Allen chipped in six kills on the day.
Senior setter Paige Holland finished the match with 29 assists.
Juniors OJ Olson and Madison Martin helped limit the Cardinals to a .122 hitting percentage with 10 digs and nine digs, respectively.
The Ladyjacks had to overcome late deficits in the final two sets and got big points when they counted the most. SFA ended the second frame on a 6-1 run to win 25-22 and take a two set advantage into the break.
The Cardinals led 22-19 in the third but the Ladyjacks were once again able to persevere with a 6-1 spurt to close the match. Junior Keeley Kainer and Ivy capped the comeback with consecutive kills.
The Ladyjacks will have five days off from competition until the opening match of the conference tournament in Natchitoches, La. on Friday. SFA swept first round opponent and eighth-seeded Nicholls State back on Sept. 25 on the road.
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