ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita tallied 65 kills, its second-highest total this season, during a 3-1 Great American Conference victory over Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday. The Tigers, who have won eight of 11 matches at home, snapped a three-match losing streak in the series as well.
Key Leaders
- Jill Leslie led OBU with 14 kills and four block assists.
- D'Erricka Frierson recorded her second double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.
- Rylee Martin's 41 assists were a career-high.
- Avery Hellmuth notched 13 kills and tied her career-high with eight blocks.
- Maci Langford racked up 26 digs to pace the defense.
- Ouachita's Emily Adams posted a match-high 16 digs and .311 attack mark.
FIRST SET
The Bison's offensive efforts were very good. At one point, they were hitting .545. Plus, Hellmuth had a few blocks and kill which helped the team attain a 14-10 lead. However, Ouachita's blocking ability helped it get back into the set. Over the next few sequences, the hosts got a couple blocks from Haley Fairchild, Riley Braziel and Leah Gardner. That brought the score to 20-19. But the Bison did lead 23-21 and 24-22 after that before Ouachita rallied once more. Four straight kills ended the set, including two by Fairchild.
SECOND SET
With the Bison leading 11-9 after a Leslie point, Ouachita reeled off an 11-1 run to seize command. Five of those points came via Bison attack error while the Tigers got a couple of aces from Braziel and Gardner. The hosts ended up hitting .261 while holding the green and gold to a .095 mark. Braziel and Adams combined for nine kills to lead Ouachita in the second.
THIRD SET
Oklahoma Baptist's attack generated five more kills in the third (18-13) and it helped them force a fourth stanza. Led by Hellmuth's half-dozen kills, the Bison jumped out to a 6-2 lead and never lost it. Down the stretch, the green and gold scored four of the last five points which included a block by Leslie and
Jh'Kyah Head to win 25-21.
FOURTH SET
Competition in the fourth was a dandy as there were 10 ties and four lead changes. About midway through,
Jenna West and Leslie teamed up for a block and knotted up the scoreboard at 11-11. Later and trailing 21-17, the Bison rallied. Blocks by Martin and Leslie, a Hellmuth ace and Leslie kill tied things at 22. That surge stalled, though. The Tigers scored three straight after that, on kills by Braziel, to win the set and match.
On The Horizon
Tomorrow at 4 p.m. the Bison will face Henderson State to wrap up their Arkansas trip.
