Volleyball Aces Tech Test

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Box Score (html)
 
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – In a battle between the top two teams in the Great American Conference, it was Oklahoma Baptist that came out on top, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-9), over Arkansas Tech in Russellville on Friday night inside the Tucker Coliseum. The Lady Bison had a pair of dominant performances by seniors Shekinah Sharpe and Sierra VeraCruz in serve-receive to gain the advantage over the Golden Suns.
 
Sharpe and VeraCruz combined for six service aces on the night, including a season-high four by Sharpe. Oklahoma Baptist held Arkansas Tech without an ace for the contest, just the second time an opponent has failed to record a score in serve-receive this season. The other time was in a sweep of Kentucky State on Sept. 2.
 
After feeling each other out in the opening part of the first set, it was Oklahoma Baptist who strung together a couple of runs to create distance between the two sides. A four-point flurry, sparked by a VeraCruz ace and helped along by a trio of ATU errors, created a 14-12 lead. Soon after, Kynnedy Myers set up Rachel Richie and Nicole Fleitman for kills that sandwiched another Golden Suns' error to widen the gap to 21-17 in favor of the Green-and-Gold. Cadyn Laing laid down the final two kills of the set to give OBU an early 1-0 lead.
 
Despite scoring a team-high 15 kills in the second set, Tech had the hot hand in the frame. The hosts hit .250 for 17 kills, just edging out OBU to even the match at 1-1.
 
Not much was able to separate the teams in the third set, as midway through they found themselves knotted up at 14-all. However, just like in the first set, it was OBU who scored the crucial run, with Laing connecting with Myers for the score that gave the Lady Bison serve. Sharpe put in back-to-back aces to push the lead to 17-14, and Arkansas Tech was never able to recover. Taylor Williams scored twice late in the set, and again it was Laing who put the finishing touches on the set for a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Unfortunately for the Lady Bison, Arkansas Tech's offense found its footing again in the fourth set, hitting a match-best .275 in the set and out-killing OBU 17-10.
 
Though they had just suffered their worst frame of the match, OBU wouldn't be deterred from their mission. Arkansas Tech may have started with the ball, but Sharpe quickly earned the Lady Bison the right to serve with the first kill of the set. VeraCruz was coolly efficient with the ball from there, holding serve over the next seven points, capping the stretch with an ace. During that time, Laing and Fleitman earned consecutive blocks, and the score was 8-0 heading into the turn.
 
Arkansas Tech their offensive stride yet again, but Laing made sure it wasn't much of a threat. The junior middle was responsible for OBU's next three points, including two kills and a block that was assisted by Adonica Wright. Fleitman hammered home the final point to give the Lady Bison pole position in the standings as the Great American Conference regular season rounds into the final stretch.
"This was the best passing in serve-receive we've had this season, and a big part of that was Sierra," said OBU head coach Anna Howle. "I also think our defensive effort was stellar tonight, with a lot of people coming up with big digs at the right time.
 
"Cadyn had a phenomenal night both attacking and blocking, and Kynnedy made some great decisions as setter. Now we'll need to refocus for another good opponent tomorrow."
 
Fleitman paced the team with 15 kills while hitting .216 on 51 attack attempts. Laing swung a match-best .480 while recording 13 kills, and Sharpe recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 18 digs to go along with her four aces. Myers also had a double-double with 43 assists and 17 digs, tacking on six kills for good measure.
 
VeraCruz led the Lady Bison with 25 digs, followed by Sharpe and Myers. Laing had a match-high six total blocks, including two solo blocks, as OBU held a 9-8 advantage in the category.
 
It's a quick turnaround for Oklahoma Baptist (14-10, 8-2 GAC) as they take on Harding tomorrow afternoon in Searcy, Arkansas, inside the Rhodes Field House at 2 p.m.