Ladyjacks Defeat Ole Miss Rebels to Finish SFA Tournament Undefeated

Saturday, September 16

Nacogdoches, TX

1:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

11-2,0-0WAC

University of Mississippi

6-5,0-0SEC

Ole Miss

SFA

Ladyjacks Defeat Ole Miss Rebels to Finish SFA Tournament Undefeated

9/16/2023 5:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Stephen F. Austin defeated the University of Mississippi 3-1 Saturday afternoon. SFA finishes their final tournament of the season undefeated and an 11-2 overall record.

Each team began the first set with a three-point run. However, points were traded back and forth the rest of the set as neither team had a lead over three. With the scored tied at 23, SFA scored the final two points and secured a 25-23 first set victory. The back-and-forth trend continued early in the second set until Ole Miss scored four in a row to take a 10-6 lead. SFA fought back to cut the Rebels lead down to one, 16-15. Ole Miss then went on another four-point run, but then SFA followed with a four-point spurt of their own, 20-19. The Rebels got in one point, before the 'Jacks caught fire again rattling off four straight to take a 23-21 lead. However, Ole Miss finished the set on a 5-1 run to win the second set by a score of 26-24. Neither team held more than a four-point lead in the third until the 'Jacks scored four late in the set to take a 23-18 lead. SFA finished off that set on a 2-1 run to secure a 25-19 third set win. The Ladyjacks jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set. SFA eventually grew their lead to six with a four-point spurt, 10-4. The 'Jacks continued to pull away with several three-point runs and another four-point run late in the fourth set to take a 24-13 lead. Ole Miss attempted to mount a comeback by scoring five in a row, but SFA's Tanishua Joseph recorded the final kill for the 'Jacks as they win the fourth set, 25-18.

SFA led UM in points (71-65), kills (55-54), blocks (14-8), assists (53-49), digs (78-74), and hitting percentage (.224-.130). Ielan Bradley led the 'Jacks with 12 kills, followed by Joseph who recorded 11. This is Joseph's second consecutive game recording double-digit kill and is a new career high. Jayden Flynn led the team with 22 assists, followed by Maddy Bourque who recorded 21. Haley Hoang led SFA with 23 digs, followed by Ariana Pagan who recorded 16. Flynn recorded her second double-double of the season with 22 assists and 11 digs. Alleah Dallas accounted for eight total blocks in today's match and Joseph recorded five total blocks. Dallas tied her season high in blocks, she also recorded eight against Bosie State last weekend.

After the match the All-Tournament Team was announced. Bradley earned MVP honors, while Hoang and Pagan each earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Full list of the All-Tournament Team:

MVP: Ielan Bradley- Stephen F. Austin
Haley Hoang- Stephen F. Austin
Ariana Pagan- Stephen F. Austin
Avery Kalsu- Tulsa
Kayley Cassaday- Tulsa
Hannah Baker- Sam Houston
Sasha Ratliff- Ole Miss

SFA will finish out their non-conference slate against Baylor on Tuesday, September 19th at 6:00 p.m. This will be a rematch of the First Round NCAA Tournament matchup from last season.