SE Drops Classic Finale to UCO

Box Score | PHOTO GALLERY

DURANT, Okla. – Despite jumping out to early leads in both the third and the fourth sets, Southeastern was unable to hold off Central Oklahoma in the finale of the South Central Classic, falling 3-1 in Bloomer Sullivan Arena on Saturday night.
 
The loss drops the Storm to 5-3 on the season, however SE did finish the weekend with a 3-1 record after a pair of wins on Friday and a win over Maryville in the first game on Saturday.
 
The Bronchos opened with a 25-21 win in the first set, outscoring the Storm 7-3 over the final 10 rallies to pull out the set.
 
Southeastern evened the score with a win in the second set, holding off a UCO rally for a 25-21 set win.
 
In the third set, SE held an 18-15 lead when the Bronchos went on a 10-5 run to end the match with a 25-23 win to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The fourth set was just as painful for the Storm as they jumped out to an 11-5 lead early, and led 18-13 when UCO again posted a rally and scored 12 of the next 16 points to pull off the 25-22 win in the set and the 3-1 match victory to stay undefeated at 8-0.
 
Emily Gentle still led all attackers despite the loss with 20 kills while hitting .283, while Ariel Sanders added 12 kills.  Courtney Miller chipped in eight, while Madelynne Cera added seven and Megan Kunkel six.
 
The Storm out-killed UCOP 54-to-49 on the match, but also committed five more errors to even out the advantage.
 
Cera also dished out 38 assists on the contest to go with her seven kills, and she flirted with a triple-double as she added a team-high 20 digs.
 
Four players reached double-digit digs, with Gentle completing a double-double with 18 digs, Taylor Benner adding 15 and Kunkel with 12.
 
Sanders led the front row defense with three blocks, two of which were solo.
 
Southeastern will now jump into Great American Conference play as it opens with Southern Nazarene at 7 p.m. in Bethany, Okla., on Sept. 17 before heading to Alva, Okla., to face Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Sept. 21.
 
The Storm will then open its home season in its regular home, Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium when it hosts arch-rival East Central at 7 p.m.