Ladyjacks Move to 2-0 in SLC Play After Five-Set Thriller Against Vaqueros

Saturday, September 27

Nacogdoches, TX

12:00 P.M.

Stephen F. Austin

7-6,2-0Southland

UTRGV

6-7,1-1Southland

UTRGV

SFA

Ladyjacks Move to 2-0 in SLC Play After Five-Set Thriller Against Vaqueros

9/27/2025 3:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Ilana de Assis paces the ‘Jacks with 19 kills against her former team.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin volleyball program returned to the friendly confines of Shelton Gym for their home conference opener against the UTRGV Vaqueros Saturday afternoon.

The Vaqueros got the jump on the 'Jacks as they held an early 10-4 lead. SFA later responded with a four-point spurt to cut the deficit to three, 13-10. Later a kill from de Assis and an ace from Zoe Gun put the Ladyjacks in striking distance, 18-16. A kill from Katherine Holtman tied the set at 24 and sent it to extras, but UTRGV was able to win the next two points to secure a 26-24 first set victory.

Both teams traded blows in the second set, but with the score tied at 11 SFA went on a 5-0 scoring run that featured two kills from Kennedy Jones, two from Molly Cravens, and one from de Assis, 16-11. Back-to-back kills from de Assis secured a 25-20 second set victory for the 'Jacks to tie the match up at one set apiece.

In the third set UTRGV went on a five-point spurt to double up SFA, 14-7. Both teams were successful in siding out the rest of the set and the Vaqueros held steady with their lead to take a 2-1 lead off a 25-16 third set victory.

With their backs against the wall, the Ladyjacks fought back from a four-point deficit early in the set and took the lead off a four-point run capped off by a kill from de Assis, 13-12. Another four-point run would give the 'Jacks a three-point lead with two kills from Holtman, one from de Assis, and one from Kyanna Creecy, 17-14. Both teams continued to trade blows the rest of the set and Holtman sent the set to extras after securing a kill that tied the set at 24. SFA won the final two points of the set to take a 28-26 fourth set victory and send the match to a decisive fifth set. The fourth set featured 10 ties and five lead changes.

SFA jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead and continued their offensive dominance with a four-point run to extend their lead, 11-5. The 'Jacks won four of the last six points and secured a 15-8 fifth set victory off a kill from Jones.

POSTGAME NOTES
• SFA moves to a 19-1 series lead over UTRGV and remain a perfect 11-0 at home.
• This is the second fifth set victory this season for the Ladyjacks.
• Ilana de Assis set a new season high with 19 kills against her former team. She also recorded 19 digs for her fifth double-double this season.
• Katherine Holtman was one off her season high with 17 kills and led the team hitting .552. This is her 10th double-digit kill game this season.
• Kennedy Jones was one off her season high with 12 and recorded her third double-digit kill game this season.
• Zoe Gun set two DI career highs with 30 assists and four aces.
• Jayden Flynn recorded her second 30+ assists game this season with 31.
• Camryn Hill set a new career high with 26 digs.
• Caroline Kahle recorded her third 20+ dig game this season with 20.
• Kyanna Creecy led the block for the 'Jacks with five of the team's seven.

UP NEXT
SFA will continue their three-game homestand in the Pressure Cooker with the New Orleans Privateers on Thursday, October 2 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a battle with the Southeastern Louisiana Lions on Saturday, October 4 at 12:00 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Volleyball at the Debbie Humphreys Court at Shelton Gym this fall! Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.

FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Volleyball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.