DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern volleyball enters the final week of the regular season looking to pick up key victories in its drive to reach the conference tournament, first taking on Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the home finale at Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium, before making the trip to Ada, Okla., to take on rival East Central on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
Tuesday night's matchup is also senior night for five SE players playing in their final home matches, they include
Grace Shehadeh and
Caroline Griffith who get the honor of a second senior day after taking advantage of an additional year of eligibility, and they will be joined by
Madison Martinez, Crisslyn Autry, and
Jocelyn Grewing.
The Savage Storm come into the week with a 7-17 record overall and a 4-10 mark in Great American Conference play in a tie for ninth in the league standings, but very much alive in chasing NWOSU and Southern Nazarene who are tied for seventh, with the top eight teams advancing to the post-season tournament.
Southeastern's offense has seen multiple players take on the leading role, most recently as
Ruthie Forson turned in a2.71 kills per set last week as
Madison Martinez added 2.43 kps.
Skylor Lewis' 2.84 kills per set continues to lead the Storm offensively, while
Caroline Griffith is adding 2.18 per set, with five other attackers averaging more than one kill per set.
Forson helped push her attack numbers last week by posting her second triple-double of the season and is the only player in the league to even record one. For the year she has averaged 8.53 assists per set, while on defense she is putting up 2.54 digs per set and posting 20 total blocks.
Shehadeh leads the defense with 5.11 digs per set on the season, while
Mya Afflerbach leads the way at the net with 48 total blocks and Griffith is right behind with 45.
NWOSU comes to town with a 10-18 record on the season and a 5-9 mark in GAC play, led offensively by Kaydee Honeycutt who averages 3.64 kills per set, while Abby Davis leads the team's setters with 4.81 assists per set.
On defense the Rangers are paced by Tarra Parks with 4.56 digs per set, while Ravyn Burns has 86 total blocks.
ECU enters the week at 13-13 overall and 9-5 in conference play, led by Emma Strickland's 2.92 kills per set and Sydney Dungen's 5.42 assists per set.
While on defense, the Tigers look to Alejandra Delgado with 5.54 digs per set, as well as Aloni Jordan who has 74 total blocks on the year.
