Stephen F. Austin
Valparaiso
SFA Splits On Day One Of Jackrabbit Invitational
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Stephen F. Austin women’s volleyball team split two matches on day one of the Jackrabbit Invitational, defeating host South Dakota State 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 24-26, 15-12) before falling 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 18-25, 14-25) to Valparaiso inside Frost Arena on Friday afternoon.
The Ladyjacks (2-4) were led by senior Jill Ivy, who recorded 32 kills across the two matches. Senior Paige Holland recorded 59 assists and junior libero OJ Olson racked up 53 digs across the nine sets.
SFA will close out the tournament on Saturday, facing UMKC at 12 p.m.
SFA 3, SDSU 2 Box Score
Ivy (18), junior Jacque Allen (16) and junior Keeley Kainer (11), each recorded double-figure kills, as the Ladyjacks swung a season-high .275 attack percentage in defeating SDSU (3-2) in five sets.
Allen led all with four kills in the opening set to aid SFA to a 25-19 victory, but the Jackrabbits responded with a 25-21 win in set two win to take a 1-1 tie into the break.
The Ladyjacks swung a match-high .455 clip in the third set to reclaim the edge, but SDSU again answered with a 26-24 edge in the fourth to force a fifth and deciding set.
SFA pulled even with the Jackrabbits on five occasions in the fifth set, before taking an 8-7 lead into the halfway point. The Ladyjacks then closed on a 7-5 run to pick up the set 15-12 and the victory 3-2, their first true road win of the season.
Valpo 3, SFA 1 Box Score
In the second match of the afternoon, Ivy again paced SFA, recording 14 kills against Valpo (3-2).
The 6-2 offense saw equal distribution between setters Holland and sophomore Shannon Connell, recording 21 and 18 assists, respectively. Holland finished one block off a double-double, recording nine denials at the net, as junior Madison Martin and Connell finished one off the pace with eight.
After dropping the first set 25-19, the Ladyjacks responded with a 25-21 win in set two to tie things up 1-1. However, the Crusaders responded with 25-18 and 25-14 wins out of break to seal the match 3-1.
-SFA-
