Volleyball Wins Third-Straight

ALVA, Okla. – Southeastern hit .306 as a team in its first set to take control and not look back in a 3-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla., on Friday, stretching its winning streak to three matches with three to play.
 
The Savage Storm improve to 11-15 overall on the year and 4-9 in Great American Conference play heading into a Saturday afternoon matchup with Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. in Weatherford, Okla.
 
Friday's win moves SE into sole possession of ninth place and the eighth spot in the GAC postseason tournament due to Oklahoma Baptist being ineligible to compete in the postseason for one more year during its transition.
 
The Storm's Saturday opponent comes in with an 11-15 record overall as well, but has secured a postseason both in the conference tournament with a 7-6 record.
 
Southeastern makes its best case for the postseason and potentially dodges an opening game with the top seed by winning all three of its remaining games, but would also make a strong case by winning two of the three, with include Oklahoma Baptist and East Central in addition to SWOSU.
 
The Storm set themselves up for this final push by owning nearly every aspect of the match on Friday against the Rangers.
 
SE finished with a 43-to-33 edge in kills, a 43-to-30 advantage in assists and a 48-to-36 gap in digs.
 
Karine Cavalcante led the charge for the offensive output, finishing with 14 kills while hitting .423 for the contest.
 
Abby Jameson joined her in double-figures with 12, while Arianna Baker added eight and Julia Benford chipped in seven.
 
Alissa Benson guided the offense with 41 assists over three sets.
 
On defense it was Caitlin Cosby pacing all defenders with 17 digs, while Jameson added nine and Cavalcante chipped in seven.
 
Benford recorded a pair of blocks to lead the way at the net.
 
After leading for much of the opening set, NWOSU would rally and take a 16-15 lead.  Southeastern responded with an 8-1 run that included four kills and a block from Benford to go up 23-17 and win the first set 25-21.
 
The second set was similar to the first with a back-and-forth contest through the midway point with the teams playing to a 12-12 tie before the Storm used a 9-2 run which was kicked off by three Baker kills and a Benson ace to open up a 21-14 lead before taking the set 25-17.
 
In the third set the Rangers edged ahead late, playing themselves into a set point at 24-22.  A Baker kill and three straight NWOSU errors would give SE a 4-0 run to take the set 26-24 and seal the 3-0 match victory.