SE Sweeps Day One at South Central Classic

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern opened the home schedule with a dramatic sweep in day one of the South Central Classic, topping Western State 3-0 in the opener before winning a back-and-forth slugfest 3-2 in the day's finale against New Mexico Highlands in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
Play for the Savage Storm resumes at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning when they square off with Wayne State before finishing the weekend at 7 p.m. versus Texas Woman's.
 
Southeastern opened its home tournament in style with a 3-0 win over Western State, with Arianna Baker leading all attackers with 10 kills, hitting .500 in the process.
 
Taylor Robinson followed right behind with nine kills and Abby Jameson added eight while hitting .429.
 
Sydney Meget handed out 24 assists while splitting the setting duties with Jodi Dixon who added 14 of her own.
 
Baker contributed all over as she added three service aces along with four blocks.
 
Hallie Smith led the defense at the net with five blocks, while Hannah Grant and Erika Costain added three apiece.
 
Caitlin Cosby led the back row with 18 digs, more than doubling-up any other defender on the floor.
 
SE opened with matching 25-19 wins in the first two sets before closing out its first straight-sets win of the year with a 25-18 win in the final set.
 
The Storm looked to be rolling in the finale after taking sets one and two by scores of 25-17 and 25-20, but quickly found themselves in a barnburner after New Mexico Highlands rallied with wins of 25-16 and 25-13 to even the score at 2-2.
 
Southeastern trailed in the fifth set 8-4 at the switch, and faced match point down 14-12.
 
A Jameson kill would hold off the first of seven match points before the Storm found itself up 20-19, but needed three shots at match point before Erika finally sank the final kill in a 23-21 win in the fifth set.
 
The Storm had a trio of double-digit attackers with Jameson leading the way with 13, followed by Baker and Paige Hawkins with 12 each.
 
Meget led the way setting again with 35 assists to lead all setters in the match and tacked on three service aces.
 
Cosby added a match-high 29 digs to her total while Costain chipped in 12 and Kristi Carter turned in 10.
 
Baker led the defense at the net with three blocks.