Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas State
Ladyjacks Fall to Arkansas State in Tulsa
9/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
TULSA, Okla. – Seniors Tori Bates and OJ Olson each had huge performances but the Stephen F. Austin women’s volleyball team couldn’t hang with Arkansas State on Saturday morning in the Hurricane Classic, falling in straight sets (21-25, 18-25, 19-25). The Ladyjacks conclude the two-day tournament with a 1-2 record to move to 6-5 on the year.
Olson played lights out for SFA all weekend, but really brought her best stuff on Saturday morning. The libero recorded 27 digs in three sets (9.00/set) to give her team opportunities in the attack after keeping numerous plays alive. Her dig total is the most in a three-set match this season. Olson ended the weekend with 85 digs in 13 sets (6.54/set) overall.
Bates provided SFA’s best threat offensively, hammering down 10 kills on 19 swings. She committed just two attack errors and ended the match with a team-best .421 hitting percentage. The outside hitter was one of few players to get through the stingy Arkansas State defense, as the Ladyjacks hit .090 in the match as a team.
Senior middle blocker Jacque Allen recorded eight kills followed by sophomore outside hitter Abby McIntyre’s seven winners. Sophomore middle Justice Walker and freshman outside hitter Haley Coleman each finished the match with five kills.
Junior Shannon Connell and freshman McKenzie Brewer split the setting duties over the match with Brewer dishing out 16 assists and Connell chipping in 14.
The Ladyjacks had to play catch up for most of the first two sets, hitting .111 in the first and -.024 in the second to go down 2-0 at the break. SFA played better in the third set, keeping things even until Arkansas State (9-1) pulled away at the end. The Ladyjacks hit a match-high .194 in the final frame.
SFA will return to action on Wednesday night at North Texas before going to a tournament at Baylor next weekend. Wednesday’s match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.
-SFA-
