Tweet #theGAC  HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The week of firsts continues for Henderson State at the 2018 Great American Conference Volleyball Championships. On Thursday, the Reddies scored their first win at the GAC Championships. On Friday, they earned their first trip the to the title match as they defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State in four sets from the Bank OZK Arena. The win also marked their first win against the Bulldogs since the two became conference rivals in 2011.
 
The Reddies (28-5) grabbed the early advantage when they took a tightly contested opening set, 25-23. Neither side led by more than three points the entire set. The Bulldogs (21-7) evened the match when they rallied late in the second set to win it by a 28-26 score. They staved off four set points before Danusia Sipa Borgeaud recorded a kill and Kaitlyn Dillon served up an ace.
 
After surrendering the opening point in the third set, the Reddies led the rest of the way. SWOSU pulled to within one point as deep into the set as 17-16 before the Reddies closed the set by winning eight of the final 12 points.
 
The fourth set opened with Henderson State winning five of the first six points only to see SWOSU answer by taking 13 of the subsequent 17 points to grab a 14-9 lead. Henderson State answered with five straight points to level the score. Down 18-17, Henderson scored seven of the next nine points to move to the precipice of the final. The Bulldogs prolonged the match with consecutive points before Adrianna Hartmann delivered the match-winning kill.
 
Courtney Bolf, a unanimous First-Team All-GAC selection, and Zuzana Ondruskova each registered 20-kill, 20-dig double-doubles for the Reddies. Bolf totaled match highs in kills, 23, digs, 33, and points, 26.5. Ondruskova tallied 21 kills, 20 digs and 22.5 points.
 
Elizabeth McVicker, the GAC Newcomer of the Year, paced the Bulldog with 17 kills. She hit .455. Allie Hoang dished out a match-high 50 assists while Dillon, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, notched 31 digs.
 
Henderson State entered the contest 0-9 against SWOSU in GAC play. The 28 wins represent the most for the program since the 2001 team also won 28 times en route to an appearance in the NCAA Regional semifinals.
 
The Reddies will face the winner of Harding-Ouachita in Saturday’s title contest. During the regular season, Henderson State won a pair of five-set contests against the Tigers but dropped both meetings with the regular-season champion Lady Bisons.