RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Ouachita Baptist (9-10, 5-2 GAC) posted an impressive 2-0 week with road wins over Southwestern Oklahoma State (12-7, 5-2 GAC) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (8-12, 2-5 GAC) to move into a tie for second in the Great American Conference standings.
The Tigers outlasted their second-place counterpart Southwestern in Weatherford, 3-2, behind a career-high 16 kills from Sophie Henry on a .560 attack percentage. Ouachita Baptist swept Northwestern Oklahoma State a day later.
(RV) Oklahoma Baptist (15-4, 7-0, 15-4 GAC) remained unbeaten in conference play with wins over Harding (14-4, 4-3 GAC) and Arkansas Tech (10-9, 4-3 GAC). Southern Nazarene (12-7, 4-3 GAC) delivered the biggest single-match win of the week, sweeping Harding in Bethany. Friday was just the fifth time in the last five seasons the Lady Bisons have been swept in conference play.
Southeastern Oklahoma State (9-9, 4-3 GAC) won six straight sets on the week, as did East Central (8-11, 3-4 GAC), to remain tied for fourth while ECU claimed wins two and three in league action to sit tied for eighth.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Melody Donegan | Oklahoma Baptist | OH | Jr. | Inola, Okla.
Oklahoma Baptist junior outside hitter Melody Donegan spearheaded the Bison offensive attack this past week, accounting for 32 kills across nine sets (3.56 k/s) while hitting .403 in the process. Donegan used a career-high 16 kills with a .406 attack percentage to defeat Harding in five sets to start the week before remaining at the .400 threshold with another 16-kill performance against Arkansas Tech.
DEFENSIVE
Riley Richardson | Southern Nazarene | MB | Sr. | Bentonville, Ark.
Southern Nazarene senior middle blocker Riley Richardson averaged 1.38 blocks per set to lead Southern Nazarene to a 2-0 homestand with wins over Arkansas Tech and Harding. Against the Lady Bisons, Richardson accounted for six blocks as the Crimson Storm defense held HU to a season-low .086 hitting percentage. In addition to her defense, Richardson also added nine kills on a .643 attack percentage against Harding to aid in the sweep.
SETTER
Jasmin Dion | Southeastern Oklahoma State | S | So. | Cedar Park, Texas
Southeastern Oklahoma State sophomore setter Jasmin Dion facilitated an historic offensively efficient two-game stretch. Dion herself averaged a conference-best 14.17 assists per set on the week while the Savage Storm offense hit .302 against Southern Arkansas and .480 against Arkansas-Monticello for a combined .382 attack percentage. Thursday and Friday was the highest combined team attack percentage across two matches in the program's GAC era (since 2012).
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
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
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