Despite Road Loss SE Clinches GAC Tourney Bid

ADA, Okla. – Noelia Rocha led the Southeastern offense but the Savage Storm was unable to come away with the victory on the road in the regular-season finale, falling to rival East Central 3-1 on Thursday night in Ada, Okla.
 
Southeastern closes the regular season with a 12-16 record overall and a 7-9 mark in Great American Conference play, and earn the eighth seed in the GAC Championship tournament thanks to a Southwestern Oklahoma State victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday night.
 
The Storm will open the postseason on Nov. 16 versus Harding who earned the top seed in the tournament.
 
"We struggled in many different facets tonight," said head coach Nicole Solum-Mitchell, "And couldn't seem to pull it together. I think our middles did a good job with hitting different shots and Noey did a good job as well. We are still figuring things out with this new line up and injuries. We are in a good position that we still get to play with post season play. This is a reset and regroup and a new season with the conference tournament. I'm excited to see what we can do."
 
Rocha turned in a team-best 12 kills to lead the way, while D'Nari Mills followed with nine.
 
Maci Morrison chipped in seven kills and dished out 28 assists while adding 10 digs.
 
Rhayan Earl and Michera Moffett each turned in six kills, with each also adding three blocks.
 
Peyton Kriegel led the back row defense with 21 digs, while Patience Lewis added 18, Amaya Constantino followed with 12 and Morrison rounded out the group in double-figures with 10.
 
Mills and Rocha each had three kills in the opening set, but a 17-7 run by ECU over the latter half of the set would give the Tigers the lead on their way to taking the set 25-17.
 
Earl would lead the way in the second set with four kills, while Moffett and Mills added three apiece, but a late Southeastern rally would fall just short in a 2523 loss in set two to fall behind 2-0.
 
Rocha led the offense in the third set with five kills, while Morrison added four, and the Storm would use an 11-5 run to close the set and pick up the 25-19 win and close the gap to 2-1.
 
 In the fourth set, ECU used a 10-3 run in the first half of the set to jump in front and would go on to take the set 25-13 and close out the match at 3-1.