Mills, Forson Power SE to Five-Set Victory

DURANT, Okla. – D'Nari Mills turned in a career-high 35 kills and Ruthie Forson added a triple double as Southeastern survived a back-and-forth slugfest to pick up a 3-2 win over Drury on Friday night in the home opener in Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 4-6 on the season heading into a Saturday afternoon matchup with Southwest Baptist at 4 p.m. back in Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.
 
"I am beyond proud of the fight this group showed tonight," said head coach Nicole Solum-Mitchell. "Drury is a competitive team that pushed us in ways that we haven't been pushed yet. The girls finished with confidence and earned their win. D'Nari again continued growing her game and contributing 35 kills with Ruth and Noey coming right behind her. This team is special."
 
Mills' 35 kills not only smashed her previous best, but it also ranks as the third most kills in a single match, passing Lunden Azuara's mark of 32 and trailing only two marks set by SE Hall of Famer Olivia Franceskini or 38 and 36 set during the 2005 season.
 
Mills would also complete the double-double by picking up 16 digs on defense.
 
Forson was effective in all aspects of play as she doled out 55 assists on the night while also turning in 13 kills and picking up 12 digs to wrap up her first triple-double of the season.
 
Noelia Rocha was the number two threat on offense with 16 kills, while Faith Kruebbe chipped in seven.
 
On the defensive side, Amaya Constantino led the way on the back row with 18 digs, followed by Mills with 16 and Forson with 12. Patience Lewis would add 11 in the effort and Krubbe finished with 10.
 
At the net, Sandra Acheampong turned in a trio of blocks to lead the team.
 
SE ran away with the first set, taking the first two points and never looking back en route to a 25-14 win in set one.
 
The second set featured 11 ties and five lead changes and needed bonus volleyball to settle as Drury would even the score at 1-1 with a 28-26 win in set two.
 
Set three swung back I SE's favor as it was even more elastic, seeing the teams tie the score 13 times and exchange the lead eight times before the Storm took the set 25-23 for a 2-1 lead.
 
The fourth set would again see the teams go past 25 points, with the Panthers surviving a marathon 30-28 set to even the contest at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth set.
 
That final set saw the teams stay knotted up through 5-5 before the Storm pushed out to a two-point lead. DU would close the gap to just one point at 8-7, but SE would take the next two points and hang on for a 15-12 win in clincher for the match victory.