Southeastern Earns a Pair of Sweeps in the Volunteer State

JACKSON, Tenn. – Southeastern leaves the Volunteer State with a pair of sweeps, defeating Bethel (Tenn.) and Lane College 3-0 to improve to 5-6 on the year.
 
The Savage Storm (5-6, 0-1) returns to the Bloomer Sullivan Gym on Tuesday, Sept. 23, for a clash with in-state foe Northwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.
 
MATCH ONE: SE 3, BU 0
 
SET ONE
Southeastern was off to a flying start thanks to the hot hand of Noelia Rocha, who tallied six kills during a SE 9-0 run to open the set. The Wildcats would answer with a surge of their own to cut the Storm's lead to five, but another quick flurry by the blue and gold pushed their lead back to 18-9. Bethel continued to battle and again would trim the gap down to five, 23-18, though its rally was not enough, as Southeastern closed the door on the late push to win the set 25-18.
 
SET TWO
The Savage Storm used another fast start in the second set to take an 11-0 lead behind two kills from Maci Morrison and seven errors by the Wildcats. Southeastern stayed on the charge, as a Morrison kill sparked another 5-0 run that was capped off by a service ace from Laura Weatherford to stretch the advantage to 18-3. In control, SE would put the finishing touches on the frame with a kill from Jaedyn Newman to secure a 25-8 win.
 
SET THREE
The blue and gold strung together early scores to take a 10-2 lead, but a fast response from the Wildcats quickly slashed the Storm's lead to 14-10. Southeastern held a four-point edge over Bethel through the next exchanges and later used a 3-0 burst to take a 20-13 lead. The Wildcats again got within striking distance of the Storm, but a pair of kills by Alexis Williams set up a match point for the blue and gold, and Newman again slammed down the final kill for a 25-10 victory.
 
Gabby Jones led the Storm against the Wildcats with nine kills, while Rocha and Newman each had seven. Jasmin Dion pulled the strings for the attack with 22 assists and tied with Weatherford for a team-high three service aces.
 
MATCH TWO: SE 3, LC 0
 
SET ONE
Southeastern rattled off 11 straight points to start the contest and leaned on Morrison during this stretch, who had three kills. Not long after, a kill by Jones sparked another flurry of points for the blue and gold, extending the lead to 17-3. Southeastern continued to score in bunches, as the Storm built a 5-0 burst started by a Newman kill and capped off by a kill from Rocha to set up a 25-7 set win.
 
SET TWO
The Storm surged out to a 5-0 lead and stretched their lead to 9-3 through a pair of Alaina Armstrong kills. SE held its lead over the next exchanges, but was soon under pressure from the Dragons, who cut the gap to three twice, and Lane would eventually tie the set 21-all on an 8-1 run. After weathering the flurry from the Dragons, SE turned to Rocha to close out the set, and she tallied three-straight kills to win the frame 25-22.
 
SET THREE
Little separated the two sides after the first rallies of the final set, but the Strom would break things open on a 5-0 burst to lead 12-5. Southeastern added to its score with a 3-0 run and later strung together four straight points to push the gap to 20-10. The blue and gold remained in control all the way to set point to take the final frame 25-14.
 
Dion and Riley McFarland pulled the strings for an attack that 44 kills on a .270 attack average, recording 19 and 15 assists, respectively. Rocha led the scoring with 10 kills, and Jones would chip in another nine. Jones added 16 digs to her totals, while Weatherford led the side with 18.