HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Competing at its first Great American Conference Volleyball Championships, Southern Nazarene made quick work Arkansas-Monticello, as the Crimson Storm ousted the Boll Weevils in three sets on Thursday from the Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
The Crimson Storm (21-9) rallied from a 17-13 deficit in the opening set by rattling off seven straight points en route to taking the set, 25-22. They faced no such difficulties in the second set as they opened up a 9-2 lead and never led by fewer than five points the remainder of a set they ultimately won, 25-14. In set three, the Cotton Blossoms (15-15) and Crimson Storm split the opening 10 points before Southern Nazarene scored eight in a row to grab control of the set.
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Emilee Crawford led the SNU offensive attack as she hit .276 with a match-leading 12 kills. GAC Player of the Year Taylor Jacobs totaled 11 kills, 13 digs and four blocks and Kaylee Piatt dished out 40 assists, a GAC Championship record for a three-set match. Abbey Bell led the five Crimson Storm players who reached double figures in kills with 20.
For the Cotton Blossoms, Kendra Johnson registered 11 kills and hit .304. Lani Kaiwi added 15 digs.
The Crimson Storm will face the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm in Friday's first semifinal match, set for 3:30 p.m. Each school will eye its first appearance in the GAC Volleyball Championships title game. During the regular season, the two split their two meetings. Southeastern won a five-set match in Durant while SNU came back and won in a sweep last Thursday.
The GAC Sports Network will carry the match at
GACSportsNetwork.com.