Savage Storm Topples Harding in Four Sets

SEARCY, Ark. – D'Nari Mills paced a broad offensive attack as Southeastern rallied from a first set loss win three-straight sets and secure a 3-1 win over league-leading Harding on Friday afternoon in Searcy, Ark.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 10-12 overall on the season and 6-5 in Great American Conference play.
 
"What a game," said head coach Nicole Solum-Mitchell. "This was a game where we showed up and made people notice us. I am so proud of our determination and family-oriented play tonight. This was a complete team win. Closing out the Arkansas side with wins against the number one team currently is what we have been working towards."
 
Mills matched the match high in kills with 13 to lead the storm offense, while Sandra Acheampong followed with 11 and Noelia Rocha chipped in 10.
 
In all, six SE players recorded at least eight kills, with Ruthie Forson turning in nine followed by eight each from Michera Moffett and Faith Kruebbe.
 
Forson would trigger the offense with 39 assists and finished off the double-double with 13 digs.
 
Amaya Constantino and Kruebbe each turned in a team-high 15 digs, with Forson's 13 digs coming next, followed by 11 from Patience Lewis.
 
At the net, Acheampong would post five blocks, one a solo, while Kruebbe added five of her own with Moffett turning in four.
 
HU would use a 4-0 run early in the match to take a lead and used an 8-2 run mid-set to pull way for the 25-16 win and a 1-0 lead.
 
The Storm would bounce back in the second set, holding off a late Bisons charge to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-23 win in the set.
 
SE would find itself trailing 9-4 in the third set early, but would use a 10-4 run to retake the lead, eventually pushing that lead to as many as four points before again holding off a late charge to secure the 25-23 win to take a 2-1 lead in the set.
 
The teams traded big swings out of the gate in the fourth set, with Southeastern scoring the first four points before Harding answered with eight straight to take an 8-4 lead. The Storm would play catch up until they finally closed the gap to 15-15, taking a lead a point later at 16-15.
 
The teams would trade seven ties and seven lead changes over the final 17 points with SE once again holding on for a 25-23 win, this time securing the 3-1 victory in the match.