Storm Set for GAC Tourney Opener

Women's Volleyball | 11/16/2016 2:33:00 PM

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern volleyball opens play in the Great American Conference Tournament presented by Subway when it takes on top-seeded Harding at 5 p.m. in Hot Springs, Ark., on Nov. 17.
 
The 16-16 Savage Storm finished the year at 6-10 in GAC play, but after winning its last two games it may enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference having won five of its last six matches, including a win over third-seeded Southern Nazarene and then conference-leading Oklahoma Baptist.
 
The SE offense will lean on Abby Jameson who leads the team and is fifth in the conference with 3.38 kills per set, bolstered by a 5.8 kps outing last week which earned her GAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Karine Cavalcante is seventh in the league in kills and is adding 3.01 kps while leading the team with 28 service aces.
 
Alissa Benson is fourth in the league in assists with 10.26 assists per set while also chipping in 2.64 digs per set and 23 total blocks.
 
The defense is paced by Caitlin Cosby who leads the entire Central region in digs with 5.71 per set, while Benson and Cavalcante are each averaging better than 2.5 per set.
 
Julia Benford has turned in a team-high 61 total blocks on the season, with Arianna Baker right behind at 56.
 
Emily Clayton leads the HU offense with 2.84 kills per set, while Abigail Glosup is handing out 10.43 assists per set.
 
On defense Zoe Hardin has registered 157 total blocks, while Taylor Lake has picked up a team-best 4.88 digs per set.
 
A win on Thursday would give the Storm a matchup against the winner between Arkansas Tech and Southwestern Oklahoma State in a 6 p.m. semifinal matchup on Nov. 18, and a victory there would earn the squad a first-ever berth in the finals which would be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19.