SE Rallies to Top Rival ECU

ADA, Okla. – Southeastern had to rally from a 2-1 deficit against rival East Central and did so behind a 22-kill effort from Abby Jameson en route to a 3-2 victory in Ada, Okla., on Thursday night.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 5-9 overall on the year and evens the conference record at 1-1 heading into a Sept. 15 noon showdown with Southern Nazarene at Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.
 
Jameson's 22 kills are a season-high for her and the most put up by an SE attacker on the year thus far.
 
She was joined in double-figures by Hallie Smith and Hannah Grant who each turned in 11 kills, while Jaclyn Menner added nine and Caroline Griffith chipped in eight.
 
Sydney Meget triggered the offense with a season-best 42 assists as the Storm finished with 66 kills, 18 more than its opponent. Jodi Dixon added 16 assists as the team piled up 64 assists.
 
Defensively, Caitlin Cosby put up 29 digs to lead all defenders on the floor, while Menner followed with 19 in the effort.
 
Griffith paced the net defense with four total blocks, while Smith added three.
 
SE pulled ahead down the stretch of the opening set before Griffith put home a kill for the 25-20 match-opening win.
 
Unfortunately, the momentum did not carry over as the Tigers picked up wins of 25-23 and 25-18 in the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead at home.
 
The Storm responded by jumping out to an early seven-point lead in the fourth set and holding off a late ECU charge to win the set 25-19 and send the match to a decisive fifth set tied at 2-2.