Thursday, September 12
Tulsa, OK
4:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
University of Oklahoma
Ladyjacks Get Set to Compete in Tulsa Invitational
9/11/2024 4:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
TULSA, Okla. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks Volleyball team (5-2) gets set for their third tournament of the season as they get set to travel to Oklahoma to participate in the Tulsa Invitational. Over the course of two days, the Ladyjacks will square off against Oklahoma (3-1), Tulsa (6-1), and a rematch of last year's First Round NCAA Tournament matchup against Arkansas (7-0).
Ladyjacks at a Glance:
The Ladyjacks will be back in action after finishing up play at the Borderlands Invitational that saw SFA finish the weekend with a 1-2 record. Despite the disappointing weekend, the Ladyjacks still sport a 5-2 record this season as four of their five wins this season have come by way of sweep. In their most recent match, the Ladyjacks fell to the host UTEP Miners 3-1.
While many in the sports world may see a younger roster as a disadvantage for SFA, the Ladyjacks have proven to many that their age is irrelevant to their talents as their freshman continue to power both the SFA offense and defense . Freshman Katherine Holtman has been the enforcer on the Ladyjack offense as she leads the team with 73 kills on the season, and leads the team with a healthy 82 points on the season. Meanwhile, freshman setter Sophia Wilson has formed a dynamic duo with Jayden Flynn to help kickstart the SFA offense as Wilson has recorded 118 assists this season, while Flynn has dished out a team-leading 144 assists on the year.
Defensively, Molly Cravens and Katherine Holtman continue to form a terrifying combination with Izabella Ortiz and Kyanna Creecy as the four have combined for 79 blocks this season. Creecy continues to be a nuisance for opposing offenses as she leads the group with 25 blocks this season. Another SFA freshman continues to prove age is just a number as Natalie Guerrero has been the backbone of the SFA defense by leading the way with 99 digs on the season, with Camryn Hill forming a solid compliment to Guerrero with her 87 digs on the year.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Oklahoma
Date/Time: Thursday, September 12th at 4:00 p.m. CST
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: Oklahoma Leads 1-0
Sooners at a Glance:
The Oklahoma Sooners will enter this weekend tournament carrying a 3-1 overall record thanks to a three-game winning streak that has seen the Sooners drop just two sets over their last three games. The Sooners currently rank second in the SEC in blocks/set averaging 2.80 per set while averaging the third-most assists per set in the SEC at 13.87/set. Oklahoma's entire non-conference slate will see the Sooners play on the road with their first home game not coming until September 26th. The Sooners are led by Head Coach Aaron Mansfield who is in his second season leading the Sooners Volleyball Program.
Alexis Shelton leads the Sooners offense with 83 kills on the year as she has recorded nine straight matches with double-digit kills dating back to the 2023 season and has reached double-digit kills in 25 of her last 29 matches. Payton Chamberlain has formed a solid duo with Shelton as she leads the team with 115 assists this season. Lydia Martyn leads the defensive effort with 21 blocks this season including 18 solo blocks.
Thursday afternoon's game will mark the second meeting between these two historic Volleyball programs as SFA looks to snap their two-game losing skid and knock off a Power Four Opponent. Their last meeting came over 30 years ago as the Sooners defeated the Ladyjacks in a five-set battle 3-2 in 1993.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Tulsa
Dates/Times: Friday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m. CST
Live Stream: ESPN+
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: SFA Leads 6-5
Hurricanes at a Glance:
The host Tulsa Hurrcianes will look to keep rolling in their first home series of the season as they are boasting a 6-1 record on the season thanks to a five-game winning streak that has seen Tulsa sweep three of their five wins and drop just two sets over those five games. The Hurricanes are led by Head Coach Lauren Ramatowski who is in her second season with Tulsa after leading them to an 18-15 finish last season with a second round appearance in the NIVC.
The Hurricanes offense is an unselfish group as five different players have tallied over 50 points this season with Rachel Brown leading the way with 64 points thanks to a team-leading 55 kills. Brayden Hipp has been an assist machine for the Hurricanes so far as she has tallied 149 assists. Meanwhile, Tytiana Johnson has been the enforcer on defense for Tulsa as she leads the way with 27 blocks thanks to 24 solo blocks so far this season. Libero Marta Pecalli was recently named AAC Defensive Player of the Week for Tulsa after totaling 81 digs last week.
Friday's morning matchup will feature the 12th all-time meeting between these two teams with SFA holding a slim 6-5 lead in the all-time record. Friday will mark the first time SFA has traveled to Tulsa since 2021 with the Ladyjacks winning the last four matches between the two schools. In their latest meeting last season, the Ladyjacks cruised to a 3-1 win over the Hurricanes at the Pressure Cooker.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Arkansas
Dates/Times: Friday, September 13th at 4:00 p.m. CST
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: Arkansas leads 7-0
Razorbacks at a Glance
Friday's doubleheader cap will feature a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament appearance in which the Razorbacks swept the Ladyjacks 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks have picked up right where they left off last season as they have started their 2024 season with a perfect 7-0 record so far. Five of the seven wins for the Razorbacks have come by way of sweep as they have recorded four consecutive sweeps carrying no shortage of confidence into the Tulsa Invitational. The Razorbacks are led by Head Coach Jason Watson who is in his ninth season at the helm of the Razorbacks Volleyball Program.
Romani Thurman leads the Razorback offense with 93 kills this season and an impressive 108 points so far. Hannah Hogue continues to dish out assists at will for Arkansas as she has tallied a whopping 266 so far this season to easily lead all Razorback players. Zoi Evans, fresh off being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week as she recorded 23 blocks over four games, and leads the team with 31 blocks as she has accumulated 28 solo blocks this season.
Friday's tournament finale for SFA will feature the eighth all-time meeting between these two schools with Arkansas leading 7-0 in the all-time series. Their most recent meeting came in December of last season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with Arkansas claiming a 3-0 win, as the Ladyjacks will look for some revenge from last season and try to throw the Razorbacks off their early season groove.
Ladyjacks at a Glance:
The Ladyjacks will be back in action after finishing up play at the Borderlands Invitational that saw SFA finish the weekend with a 1-2 record. Despite the disappointing weekend, the Ladyjacks still sport a 5-2 record this season as four of their five wins this season have come by way of sweep. In their most recent match, the Ladyjacks fell to the host UTEP Miners 3-1.
While many in the sports world may see a younger roster as a disadvantage for SFA, the Ladyjacks have proven to many that their age is irrelevant to their talents as their freshman continue to power both the SFA offense and defense . Freshman Katherine Holtman has been the enforcer on the Ladyjack offense as she leads the team with 73 kills on the season, and leads the team with a healthy 82 points on the season. Meanwhile, freshman setter Sophia Wilson has formed a dynamic duo with Jayden Flynn to help kickstart the SFA offense as Wilson has recorded 118 assists this season, while Flynn has dished out a team-leading 144 assists on the year.
Defensively, Molly Cravens and Katherine Holtman continue to form a terrifying combination with Izabella Ortiz and Kyanna Creecy as the four have combined for 79 blocks this season. Creecy continues to be a nuisance for opposing offenses as she leads the group with 25 blocks this season. Another SFA freshman continues to prove age is just a number as Natalie Guerrero has been the backbone of the SFA defense by leading the way with 99 digs on the season, with Camryn Hill forming a solid compliment to Guerrero with her 87 digs on the year.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Oklahoma
Date/Time: Thursday, September 12th at 4:00 p.m. CST
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: Oklahoma Leads 1-0
Sooners at a Glance:
The Oklahoma Sooners will enter this weekend tournament carrying a 3-1 overall record thanks to a three-game winning streak that has seen the Sooners drop just two sets over their last three games. The Sooners currently rank second in the SEC in blocks/set averaging 2.80 per set while averaging the third-most assists per set in the SEC at 13.87/set. Oklahoma's entire non-conference slate will see the Sooners play on the road with their first home game not coming until September 26th. The Sooners are led by Head Coach Aaron Mansfield who is in his second season leading the Sooners Volleyball Program.
Alexis Shelton leads the Sooners offense with 83 kills on the year as she has recorded nine straight matches with double-digit kills dating back to the 2023 season and has reached double-digit kills in 25 of her last 29 matches. Payton Chamberlain has formed a solid duo with Shelton as she leads the team with 115 assists this season. Lydia Martyn leads the defensive effort with 21 blocks this season including 18 solo blocks.
Thursday afternoon's game will mark the second meeting between these two historic Volleyball programs as SFA looks to snap their two-game losing skid and knock off a Power Four Opponent. Their last meeting came over 30 years ago as the Sooners defeated the Ladyjacks in a five-set battle 3-2 in 1993.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Tulsa
Dates/Times: Friday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m. CST
Live Stream: ESPN+
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: SFA Leads 6-5
Hurricanes at a Glance:
The host Tulsa Hurrcianes will look to keep rolling in their first home series of the season as they are boasting a 6-1 record on the season thanks to a five-game winning streak that has seen Tulsa sweep three of their five wins and drop just two sets over those five games. The Hurricanes are led by Head Coach Lauren Ramatowski who is in her second season with Tulsa after leading them to an 18-15 finish last season with a second round appearance in the NIVC.
The Hurricanes offense is an unselfish group as five different players have tallied over 50 points this season with Rachel Brown leading the way with 64 points thanks to a team-leading 55 kills. Brayden Hipp has been an assist machine for the Hurricanes so far as she has tallied 149 assists. Meanwhile, Tytiana Johnson has been the enforcer on defense for Tulsa as she leads the way with 27 blocks thanks to 24 solo blocks so far this season. Libero Marta Pecalli was recently named AAC Defensive Player of the Week for Tulsa after totaling 81 digs last week.
Friday's morning matchup will feature the 12th all-time meeting between these two teams with SFA holding a slim 6-5 lead in the all-time record. Friday will mark the first time SFA has traveled to Tulsa since 2021 with the Ladyjacks winning the last four matches between the two schools. In their latest meeting last season, the Ladyjacks cruised to a 3-1 win over the Hurricanes at the Pressure Cooker.
Stephen F. Austin vs. University of Arkansas
Dates/Times: Friday, September 13th at 4:00 p.m. CST
Stadium: Reynolds Center
Series: Arkansas leads 7-0
Razorbacks at a Glance
Friday's doubleheader cap will feature a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament appearance in which the Razorbacks swept the Ladyjacks 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks have picked up right where they left off last season as they have started their 2024 season with a perfect 7-0 record so far. Five of the seven wins for the Razorbacks have come by way of sweep as they have recorded four consecutive sweeps carrying no shortage of confidence into the Tulsa Invitational. The Razorbacks are led by Head Coach Jason Watson who is in his ninth season at the helm of the Razorbacks Volleyball Program.
Romani Thurman leads the Razorback offense with 93 kills this season and an impressive 108 points so far. Hannah Hogue continues to dish out assists at will for Arkansas as she has tallied a whopping 266 so far this season to easily lead all Razorback players. Zoi Evans, fresh off being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week as she recorded 23 blocks over four games, and leads the team with 31 blocks as she has accumulated 28 solo blocks this season.
Friday's tournament finale for SFA will feature the eighth all-time meeting between these two schools with Arkansas leading 7-0 in the all-time series. Their most recent meeting came in December of last season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with Arkansas claiming a 3-0 win, as the Ladyjacks will look for some revenge from last season and try to throw the Razorbacks off their early season groove.
Players Mentioned
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