SE Opens GAC Play at No. 24 Oklahoma Baptist Tuesday

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern gets Great American Conference play started on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. with a trip to Shawnee, Okla., to battle No. 24 Oklahoma Baptist.
 
SERIES NOTES

• SE will look to snap a three-match losing streak to the Bison, heading into the 25^th all-time meeting. Oklahoma Baptist leads the series dating back to 2009, 21-3.
• The Savage Storm is 1-1 in the last two trips to the Noble Complex, picking up a 3-2 win over the Bison in 2024.

 
STORM REPORT
Southeastern went 2-2 at the Meadow City Classic with a 3-1 win over Eastern New Mexico, and the Savage Storm capped off their trip to New Mexico with their second sweep of the season, defeating New Mexico Highlands 3-0. The blue and gold head into the first GAC match of the season with a record of 4-4.
 
Layla Wilson burst onto the scene at the Meadow City Classic, as the freshman recorded 50 kills to lead the team at the weekend. Wilson saw a high of 20 against Northwestern Oklahoma State and finished the invitational with back-to-back double-digit kill matches. The Plano, Texas native ranks third on the team through eight matches with 53 kills and is averaging 3.12 per set.
 
Gabby Jones eclipsed 100 kills on the season after registering 46 at the weekend. Jones leads SE with 101 kills while averaging a team-high 3.37 per set. Additionally, the sophomore has been a double-double machine, having registered six this season, including three at the Meadow City Classic. Jones ranks second on the team in digs with 98 and is averaging 3.27 per set. As a team, the Storm rank eighth in the GAC in kills, averaging 11.38 per set, and are attacking at a .168 clip.

Setting the tone for the attack is setter Jasmin Dion with 262 assists and ranks sixth in the GAC with 8.19 assists per set. Dion totaled 113 assists over the weekend and has reached 30 assists in all but one match this season. Defensively, SE is led by Patience Lewis with 101 digs, while Nykeriah Allen paces the efforts at the net with 22.0 total blocks. Southeastern is averaging 13.5 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set on the year. 

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
The Bison carry a 7-2 overall record into the first GAC match of the season, highlighted by three wins over ranked opponents. Oklahoma Baptist's most recent win over a top-25 team came this past weekend against No. 17 Missouri-St. Louis, whom the Bison defeated 3-2 at the Tampa Volleyball Classic.
 
Leading the attack for the Bison is Rylee Unruh, who is averaging 3.38 kills per set for 115 kills. The senior outside hitter has reached double-digit kills in six contests this season, including a high of 22 in a 3-2 win over Wisconsin-Parkside. Helping set up the attack is setter Emily Boyer with 294 assists, while also chipping in 31 kills. Defensively, the Bison have two players with 20.0 blocks, paced by Addison Dale with a team-best 24.0 denials.