Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana-Monroe
Ladyjacks Complete Comeback, Down ULM 3-2
9/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team picked up their first win of the 2014 season inside Shelton Gym in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to edge Louisiana - Monroe 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-15, 15-6) on Wednesday night.
“After going down 2-0, we made the switch from the 6-2 to the 5-1 and that is what was able to turn the match in our favor and I think will ultimately be the turning point in our season,” head coach Debbie Humphreys said. “We needed ball control, passing and defense, and switching into the 5-1 allows us to do that. It allows us to use Madison Martin and Lexus Cain, who are two of the top passing defenders in the conference. The 5-1 also allows us to use OJ Olson, our libero, and that proved to be more important than having a bigger block tonight.”
Junior Keeley Kainer and senior Jill Ivy each recorded 11 kills for SFA (3-5), with Kainer commanding a .476 attack percentage. The Ladyjacks posted a .203 clip on the night, while limiting the Warhawks (2-6) to just a .069 attack efficiency across five sets.
Sophomore Justice Walker was a presence on both sides of the ball, picking up nine kills and issuing seven blocks (one solo, six assisted), in joining junior Jacque Allen at the net. Allen led all with 10 blocks (three solo, seven assisted), also picking up three kills, as SFA combined for 17 kills as a team.
After dropping two close sets 25-22 and 25-23 to open the match, the Ladyjacks shifted its scheme out of the break. SFA switched out of its 6-2 rotation and in to a 5-1 system, funneling the ball through senior Paige Holland, who finished with 33 assists.
The Ladyjacks, whose attack was held scoreless in the second set, swung a commanding .345 clip to thwart the attempted sweep by ULM in a 25-14 victory in set three. Kainer picked up five kills, as the defensive presence of SFA limited the Warhawks to a -.067 effectiveness.
In the fourth set, the Ladyjacks hit a match-high .364 attack percentage to easily win 25-15 and force a fifth and deciding set. SFA got even distribution from its attack, as three Ladyjacks picked up three kills or more. Trailing 3-2 in the early goings, a ULM service error evened things three-all. In the next rally, the Warhawks’ Kaitlyn Shearer committed an attack error, one of a season-high 34 forced by SFA, to put the Ladyjacks ahead. SFA then went on a 16-8 run to jump out front 20-11, before eventually taking the set 25-15 and evening things 2-2.
SFA opened the final set 4-0 to force a timeout from ULM. The Ladyjacks then added one more point on attack error, before a kill from Hope Pawlik gave the Warhawks their first point of the set at 5-1. After trading points, SFA scored four straight to take a 10-2 lead, before closing on a 5-4 run to take the fifth set 15-6 and the victory 3-2.
The Ladyjacks will now begin preparation for the Louisiana Tech Invitational in Ruston, Louisiana. SFA will play New Orleans, Texas - Pan American and host Louisiana Tech across the two-day tournament set to begin Friday.
-SFA-
