HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas – A third-set comeback flipped the outlook for top-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State at the 2024 Great American Conference Volleyball Championships as the Bulldogs regained control of match against No. 8 Henderson State, closed out the Reddies in the fourth set, and advanced with a 3-1 victory on Thursday from Bank OZK Arena.
The Reddies (15-15)won the second set, 25-19, to even the quarterfinal contest. They raced out to a 15-6 advantage in the third set and maintained a nine-point lead at 18-9 before the Bulldogs (21-7) mounted a furious rally. They scored seven-straight points on four kills from Hailey Smith, two from GAC Player of the Year Lacy Mott and a block from Zoey Sparks. Down 21-18, the Bulldogs took advantage of two Reddie errors sandwiched around a Jada Permenter to level the set, 21-21, the set’s first tie since 2-2. A Savannah Coats kill and a Carson Edwards ace gave the Reddies two set points, however, the Bulldogs won the set’s final four points to win the set, 26-24.
The fourth set began with SWOSU winning 10 of the first 13 points. Mott registered three kills during this run; Smith and Sparks each added two. The Bulldogs never allowed the Reddie to draw even in the set. Kills by Smith and Sparks followed by a block from Sparks and Maddie Clark closed out the match. The Bulldog defense held the Reddies to a .095 attack percentage the the set, their lowest of the contest.
Mott led the Bulldogs with 16 kills. She added a team-high 24 digs. Smith hit .429 with 13 kills. Terez Chavez - 25 assists, 22 digs - and Cameron Turner - 20 assists, 12 digs - also recorded double-doubles. Katilyn Steffes, the GAC Newcomer of the Year, registered a match-high 20 kills.
Southwestern Oklahoma State faces Ouachita Baptist at 5 p.m. on Friday in the day’s closing semifinal. The Bulldogs won the lone regular-season meeting, 3-0, on October 25.