BETHANY – Oklahoma Baptist recorded the second-highest attack percentage surrendered by Southern Nazarene this season during a 3-1 win at the Sawyer Center on Tuesday. The Bison improved to 8-6 and 2-1 in the Great American Conference with the result.
Key Leaders
- Against a strong SNU defense, OBU's offense dialed up a .294 attack mark.
- RS Jh'Kyah Head's 15 kills were a career-best and team-high. She also hit .458.
- S Emily Boyer notched a double-double with 23 assists and 10 digs.
- OH D'Erricka Frierson continued her strong return with 12 kills. Over the last three matches, she has paced the Bison offense with 3.5 kills per set.
- Both Avery Hellmuth and Jenna West secured 10 kills.
- In addition to Boyer, Maci Langford and Lauren Safrit contributed 10 digs apiece.
- Worth mentioning too, the Storm's 47 digs were its second-fewest attained in 2023. They came into the match ranked fifth in the country in total digs.
First Set
The green and gold absolutely ravaged the hosts in the first. Led by West's half-dozen kills, the Bison hit .409 and won 25-13. For SNU, which struggled to handle the Bison's serves, it connected at a .185 rate. OBU's key stretch was early, as it trailed 4-3. Six straight points, which included two kills and a block assist from
Jill Leslie, helped lead to the blowout.
Second Set
OBU led from start to finish in the second and was powered by a fast start. The Bison scored seven of the first nine points and after a block from West and Leslie, SNU called timeout. Down 7-2, the Storm eventually made things interesting, pulling within two numerous times, including at 16-14 following an ace by Tatum Smith. However, the Bison never gave up their advantage and down the stretch, got a couple kills from Safrit to win 25-22.
Third Set
Things were not as easy in the third for the Bison. In fact, SNU raced out to a 10-4 advantage after a point from Tynaa Mojica. They later went up ten, 21-11, following a block by Whitney Bowie and Tessa Henry. While the Bison were never able to recover, they did attain some momentum down the stretch which carried into the fourth.
Fourth Set
The first three points of the final stanza went to the Bison before a service ace from sophomore
Karsyn Hunter made the tally 11-7. SNU followed with a timeout, but it didn't result in the hosts responding. OBU scored the next two points out of the break courtesy of Hellmuth and West and continued to pull away. Led by Hellmuth's six kills and ridiculous .857 attack mark in the fourth, the green and gold nearly doubled up SNU in kills (15-8) and limited the Storm to a .118 attack mark.
On The Horizon
Next on the schedule is another home match at the Noble Complex. OBU will host Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-9, 1-3 GAC) at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28.
