SE Volleyball Sweeps Day One in Arkadelphia

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Southeastern pulled its season record back even on the strength of a pair of day one victories at the Bettye Wallace Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark., first downing Lane by a 3-0 score before taking out West Alabama by the same score in the afternoon.
 
The wins lift the Savage Storm to 3-3 overall on the year with a pair of Saturday matches on the horizon, first taking on Western New Mexico at 8:30 a.m. before ending the weekend against Keiser at 1 p.m.
 
"Great opportunity for others to get in and play and come out with a win," said head coach Nicole Solum-Mitchell said of the opening match win. "I'm really proud of how these girls rallied together to come out with a three-set win. Girls are having to play different positions and they are rising to the challenge."
 
D'Nari Mills led the offense in the opener with 14 kills, while Noelia Rocha hit .438 and added nine kills of her own in the effort.
 
Maci Morrison stepped into the role of setter in place of Ruthie Forson who was unable to play, and handed out 25 assists while completing a double-double with 11 digs and chipping in two kills.
 
Morrison's 11 digs led the back-row defense while Patience Lewis and Amaya Constantino each added eight digs. Along the net, Sandra Acheampong and Rhayan Earl each logged a solo block.
 
SE cruised over the first two sets in the match, taking set one 25-12 and set two 25-10 with a total of two ties and one lead change across both sets.
 
The third set saw a tighter affair as the teams were tied seven times and added three lead changes before the Storm pulled out a 25-21 win to clinch the match.
 
"Fantastic way to end the first day," said Solum-Mitchell after the win in match two. "Can't remember the last time SE volleyball went 2-0 in sweeps in the first day of a tournament. Maci has stepped up in the most selfless way to contribute to her team today and I couldn't be more proud of her."
 
Morrison continued getting comfortable in the setter position, this time adding 23 assists with five digs and three kills.
 
Mills once again led the offense with 13 kills and rounded out the double-double with a match-high 11 digs while adding two solo blocks.
 
Rocha was again next in line, finishing with seven kills.
 
Canstantino also broke double-figures in digs with 10, while Peyton Kriegel added nine.
 
The Storm would pull away in set one as it would break an 8-8 tie and eventually pull away for the 25-16 win in the set.
 
SE was more dominant in set two, taking it 25-14 and leading from first serve.
 
The final set featured 10 ties and five lead changes and Saw the Storm fight off two set points and recover from one missed opportunity of their own to finally take the set 29-27.