Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State (quarterfinals)
SFA Sweeps Nicholls, Advances to SLC Semifinals
11/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team used 14 kills from senior Jill Ivy and scrappy defensive play to defeat Nicholls State in straight sets (25-23, 25-18, 26-24) in the Southland Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Friday night in Prather Coliseum. It is the 14th SLC sweep for the team this season.
The Ladyjacks (24-7, 17-0 SLC) will play the winner of Friday's nightcap on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the SLC semifinals. Their opponent will either be No. 4 Sam Houston State or No. 5 Northwestern State. SFA beat Sam Houston 3-2 in Shelton Gym on Oct. 23 and Northwestern State 3-0 and 3-1 in two matchups earlier this season.
Despite not being crisp in every phase of the game on Friday night, SFA found a way to fend off a pesky Nicholls club. Ivy was dominant in the attack, leading the Ladyjacks with 14 kills on .353 hitting. She also dug up seven balls and contributed three block assists on the evening.
Junior Jacque Allen joined Ivy with an efficient night, spiking eight balls to the ground while swinging at a .389 clip. Senior Paige Holland dished out 33 assists as SFA turned in a .189 hitting percentage as a team.
Defensively, junior OJ Olson posted a team-high 16 digs and freshman Lexus Cain added 10. The Ladyjacks outblocked the Colonels (10-20, 6-11 SLC) 11-3, thanks in part to three solo blocks and four block assists from Allen. Sophomore Justice Walker also had a hand in four blocks as SFA limited NICH to a .157 attack percentage in the contest.
SFA jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the opening set but Nicholls quickly took control 12-11 after going on an 11-3 run. The two teams went back and forth until the score was knotted up at 23-23. With Holland serving, freshman Abby McIntyre pounded a kill and Nicholls followed with a double touch to help SFA win the set, 25-23.
Neither team was able to establish much separation early in the second set. Allen powered down a huge kill to reestablish the SFA lead 17-16 and McIntyre later helped extend the advantage to 20-16 with a key solo block. The Colonels made a couple crucial errors down the stretch and the Ladyjacks capitalized to win the second set 25-18. SFA used a 10-2 spurt to put the second period away and take a 2-0 advantage into the break.
The Ladyjacks found themselves down 22-20 late in the third frame, but back-to-back kills by junior Keeley Kainer helped SFA get right back in the match. An Ivy kill and a Nicholls attack error helped SFA win the third 26-24 and complete the sweep.
The Ladyjacks' semifinal match on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network. Fans can also catch the action via internet radio, courtesy of Greg Miller and the SFAVolleyBlog.
-SFA-
