Savage Storm Pick Up 3-1 Win over SAU

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern picked up its second win in its last three outings by topping Southern Arkansas 3-1 on Friday night in Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 7-17 overall on the year and 3-7 in Great American Conference play heading into a 1 p.m. matchup with Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday afternoon.
 
"We knew that Southern Arkansas was going to be good coming into this match," said head coach Brianna Barry. "They have lost some really tough conference games in five sets, so we knew we couldn't give them any momentum. At one point, we did, a little too much, but I'm really proud of our girls because they stepped up and stayed strong during that second set and really push them, and win. Taking that break we got a little comfortable and we knew we wanted to play and we wanted to finish but that team is able to come back. That was a tough point, and I'm proud of the girls for being able to pull though."
 
"Huge," she said when asked about getting the win heading into the home stretch of the season. "For us, we only get one chance to play these Arkansas schools, so we really needed to get this win tonight. After last weekend winning at Henderson was really awesome. Monticello tomorrow is going to be tough. You know these Arkansas schools are pretty good. They have played some of the best competition in our conference, but this win was a big moral win for us."
 
Abby Jameson led all hitters in the match with 18 kills, while Jaclyn Menner added 12.  Arianna Baker chipped in eight in the effort.
 
Alissa Benson dished out a match-best 42 assists and turned in an all-around effort by adding five kills on offense, while chipping in 16 digs and a block on defense.
 
Caitlin Cosby led the defense with 27 digs to pace all defenders in the match, while also adding a pair of aces and eight assists.
 
She paced a foursome of double-digit dig defenders and was joined by Benson as well as Jameson with 15 and Menner with 13.
 
Hallie Smith and Baker led the net defense with three blocks each.
 
In the opening set, Southeastern would seven of the last 10 points to break an 18-18 tie and win the set 25-21.
 
The Storm closed set two in even stronger fashion by breaking open a 14-13 set with an 11-2 run to win 25-15 and go up 2-0.
 
That momentum turned in the third set as SAU used the same weapon against SE, scoring the final 10 points to erase a 17-15 Storm lead and take the set 25-17.
 
After leading for much of the third set another Mulerider run, this one 8-0, would turn a 17-13 Storm lead into a 21-17 SAU advantage.  However, this time Southeastern would take eight of the last 10 points and win the set 25-23 to clinch the match 3-1.