Storm Volleyball Falls at ATU

Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark – Skylor Lewis posted a match-best 13 kills, however Southeastern would close out its Arkansas road swing with a 3-0 loss to Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon in Russellville, Ark.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 7-13 on the season and 4-7 in Great American Conference play with a non-conference matchup against Texas A&M-Commerce next on the schedule on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. in Commerce, Texas.
 
Lewis posted a match-high 13 kills to lead all attackers, while Ruthie Forson was next in line with eight and Mya Afflerbach added five.
 
Forson also dished out 21 assists to go with her eight kills on offense, while on defense she chipped in six digs and three blocks.
 
The defense was led overall on the back row by Grace Shehadeh who collected 18 digs, while Lewis completed the double-double with 11 digs.
 
Forson was joined by Caroline Griffith and Jadyn James with three total blocks to lead the defense at the net.
 
SE got off to a slow start in the first set as ATU jumped out to a 9-3 lead and the Storm were forced to play catch up for the set.  Southeastern would close the gap to four points twice, but the Suns would pull away for the 25-14 win in the set.
 
The second set featured seven ties and eight lead changes over the first 25 points combined until ATU edged ahead, taking a 20-15 lead.  The Storm clawed back into the set and eventually tied the score at 23-23 on a Griffith kill. The teams would tie at 24-24 and 25-25. SE would take a 26-25 lead, but the Suns would score the final three points of the set to take it 28-26.
 
Arkansas Tech scored the first five points of the third set and left the Storm in rally mode. SE would close the gap to 7-5 on a Lewis kill, but 10 points later found themselves down 15-7.  Southeastern would slowly claw away and close the gap to 24-22, but ATU would take the next point to win the set 25-22 and clinch the match.