DURANT, Okla. – Southern Arkansas battled the Rocky Mountain Conference's New Mexico Highlands to five sets (23-25, 25-11, 15-25, 25-22, 13-15) and fell just shy of claiming their second win of the season on Saturday morning at the South Central Classic inside Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas (1-2)
New Mexico Highlands (2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Southern Arkansas out-attacked the Cowgirls .155 to .136 and also recorded higher totals in points (+4), kills (+3), blocks (+2), assists (+3), and digs (+10).
- Momentum shifted often on Saturday morning as neither team won consecutive sets.
- Southern Arkansas bounced back after an opening set loss in which they attacked at .114, by recording a hit percentage of .405 in the second set that saw them commit just one error in 37 total attacks.
- Down four in the final set, SAU fought back to tie the contest at 13 before a pair of Cowgirl kills sealed the victory for NM Highlands.
- Senior outside hitter Serena LeDuff produced her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs.
- Senior middle hitter Kaitlyn Reiner logged a career-high in kills as she led all players with 13, while also recording five blocks and a service ace. Reiner recorded nine kills total in the first two games of the season.
- Junior opposite hitter Alli O'Banion collected 10 kills.
- Junior setter Savannah Pillow logged her first 40-plus assist game of her career as she registered 45.
- Four players recorded 14 or more digs led by senior Paige Mays' 21 and followed by senior Hannah Rice and freshman Riley Marsh's 18 digs apiece and LeDuff's aforementioned 14.
FOR THE OPPOSITION
- Jasmine Dixon and Tianna Matthews each recorded a dozen kills and three blocks for NM Highlands.
- Caroline Hansen collected a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
- Shayli Schulz and Nicole Talamantes combined for 44 digs, led by Schulz's 24. Schulz also added eight digs.
- Bryanna Lopez logged a game-high 29 digs.
UP NEXT
