RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - With the regular season winding down, many Great American Conference teams played just one match this week, with Southeastern Oklahoma State (10-14, 5-7 GAC) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (15-9, 8-4 GAC) claiming the biggest wins of week nine.
Southeastern picked up the biggest win of the year in the GAC, toppling No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist (19-5, 11-1 GAC) in three sets, while Southwestern stilled the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene (15-11, 7-5 GAC) in three sets as well. Thursday marked the first time this season OKB and SNU have lost by way of a sweep.
With four matches remaining in the 2026 regular season, Harding (19-4, 9-3 GAC) and Ouachita Baptist (13-11, 9-3 GAC) each picked up wins to stay in the hunt for the GAC regular season title, while the aforementioned Bulldogs and Arkansas Tech (14-10, 8-4 GAC) are also alive for the regular season crown.
With Southern Nazarene currently sixth in the league standings, there is currently a three-way tie for seventh between Henderson State (12-13, 5-7 GAC), Southeastern and East Central (10-15, 5-7 GAC). The top eight teams will head to Enid, Okla., for the GAC Women's Volleyball Tournament Nov. 11-13.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Katja Blanchat | Southwestern Oklahoma State | MH | So. | Lindsborg, Kan.
Southwestern Oklahoma State sophomore middle hitter Katja Blanchat earned her first GAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after leading the Bulldogs to a 3-0 sweep over Southern Nazarene. Thursday was the first time the Crimson Storm have been swept in conference play this season. Blanchat displayed complete offensive dominance on the night, hitting a match-high .500 while also pacing all competitors with a career-high 19 kills, which is tied for the most kills in a three-set match in the league this season.
DEFENSIVE
Patience Lewis | Southeastern Oklahoma State | DS/L | Sr. | Pearland, Texas
Southeastern Oklahoma State senior libero Patience Lewis earned her second GAC Defensive Player of the Week nod of the season after her defensive prowess helped lead the Savage Storm to an impressive 3-0 victory over No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist. In what was OKB's first time being swept in league play this season, Lewis' match-high 22 digs assisted in Southeastern holding the Bison to their lowest attack percentage of the season at .092 while only managing 34 kills in the contest.
SETTER
Mackenzie Sims | Southwestern Oklahoma State | S | So. | Amarillo, Texas
Southwestern Oklahoma State sophomore setter Mackenzie Sims picked up her third GAC Setter of the Week honor of 2026 after facilitating a dominant and efficient Bulldog sweep of Southern Nazarene. Sims recorded 44 assists in the three-set outing, matching the second most assists in a three-set match in the league this season. Sims helped orchestrate a SWOSU offense that hit .314 on the night - the second highest team attack percentage in league play for Southwestern this season - including a match-high .419 in the match-deciding third set.
WEEKLY AWARDS
GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 7 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 14 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 21 Melaina Haines, Harding
Sept. 28 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene (x2)
Oct. 5 Melody Donegan, Oklahoma Baptist
Oct. 12 Henley Hooks, Arkansas Tech
Oct. 19 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist (x3)
Oct. 26 Katja Blanchat, Southwestern Oklahoma State
GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State
Sept. 7 Hannah Morgan, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 14 Rauly Eason, Harding
Sept. 21 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x2)
Sept. 28 Patience Lewis, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 5 Riley Richardson, Southern Nazarene
Oct. 12 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x3)
Oct. 19 Lauren Demuth, Harding
Oct. 26 Patience Lewis, Southeastern Oklahoma State (x2)
GAC Setter of the Week
Aug. 31 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 7 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Sept. 14 Olivia Wiedower, Harding
Sept. 21 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 28 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x2)
Oct. 5 Jasmin Dion, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 12 Mack Bidwell, Ouachita Baptist
Oct. 19 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x3)
Oct. 26 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x3)