HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist (21-8) competed in the semifinal round of Great American Conference Tournament play versus Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday. The contest seemed evenly matched over all three sets. Both teams kept things close or held a fragile lead for most of the afternoon. However, in each set, the Bison pulled away for the win.
On Saturday, the Bison will compete for their fourth title in the last five seasons against fourth-seed Henderson State at 3 p.m. The last time these two teams met in the GAC tourney, the Bison won the title over HSU during the altered spring season of 2021.
D'Erricka Frierson claimed 12 kills, a team-high, followed by
Avery Hellmuth who secured 10. Those two were key players in the first and third sets, respectively. Hellmuth was also the hitting leader at a .556.
Abrey Galt made 24 assists throughout the three sets. Also of note,
Jh'Kyah Head had some crucial points, ended up with seven kills and a .462 attack mark.
Plus,
Maci Langford,
Lauren Safrit and
Jenna West each recorded at least 10 digs.
First Set
While the Bison took an early lead, 14-7, the Bulldogs caught up and kept the fight close for the second half of the set. Then after SWOSU tied at 20-20, the Bison pushed forward and took the next five points. Safrit scored two straight on a kill and ace before SWOSU erred twice. West then secured a 1-0 match lead with a kill.
Second Set
The second stanza began in SWOSU's favor, but OBU kept close. The set remained tense throughout its entirety. Both teams showed great endurance as the match went on. The Bulldogs reached set point five times, but the Bison never stopped attacking. At the end with the score knotted up at 28, West delivered an ace before
Jill Leslie delivered the final point.
Third Set
Southwestern started with their biggest lead at 6-1 before Oklahoma Baptist once again closed the gap. The green and gold scored the next five points to get back into it. Following that, both teams exchanged small leads of one or two points. OBU then closed the set and match with a 6-1 run of its own. Trailing 20-19, Leslie's ninth kill tied the scoreboard again. SWOSU then erred four out of the next five sequences, which included a block assist by Hellmuth and Frierson. Then Safrit, a freshman, sealed the win with a kill, her sixth.
On The Horizon
This will be the second matchup with the Reddies this fall. OBU defeated Henderson State 3-0 on Oct. 20.
