RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - (RV) Oklahoma Baptist (13-4, 5-0 GAC) remains the only undefeated team in conference play after week five while Harding (14-2, 4-1 GAC) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (10-6, 4-1 GAC) went 2-0 on the week to occupy the top three spots in the conference standings.
Arkansas Tech (10-7, 4-1 GAC) went 1-1 on the week after falling to Harding in Russellville, while Ouachita Baptist (7-10, 3-2 GAC) took the season's first edition of the Battle of the Ravine as both the Tigers and Henderson State (9-8, 3-2 GAC) sit at 3-2 in league play.
Southeastern Oklahoma State (7-9, 2-3 GAC) picked up the biggest win of the week, defeating Southern Nazarene (10-7, 2-3 GAC) in a five-set thriller in Durant, Okla. Northwestern Oklahoma State (7-10, 1-4 GAC), East Central (5-11, 1-4 GAC), Southern Arkansas (5-11, 1-4 GAC) and Arkansas-Monticello (2-15, 0-5 GAC) fill out the rest of the standings.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Kate Wright | Southern Nazarene | OH | Jr. | Oak Point, Texas
Southern Nazarene junior outside hitter Kate Wright picked up her second GAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after recording the second-most kills in a single match in NCAA Division II this season, recording 28 kills in a 3-2 in over East Central. In the same match, Wright totaled a career-high 30 digs, recording a double-double in both matches of the week after averaging 24 kills and 24 digs per match.
DEFENSIVE
Patience Lewis | Southeastern Oklahoma State | L | Sr. | Pearland, Texas
Southeastern Oklahoma State senior libero Patience Lewis helped the Savage Storm to its biggest win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Southern Nazarene. Lewis delivered a season-high 36 digs in the five-set triumph as the Pearland, Texas, native averaged 6.25 digs per set. Lewis also added five service aces on the week, including three in the win over the Crimson Storm.
SETTER
Mackenzie Sims | Southwestern Oklahoma State | S | So. | Amarillo, Texas
Southwestern Oklahoma State sophomore setter Mackenzie Sims earned her second GAC Setter of the Week this season after leading SWOSU to a 2-0 week where she averaged a league-best 12.14 assists per dig during week five. Sims used a season-high 52 digs in a four-set victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State while adding 10 digs for her ninth double-double of the season.
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)
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
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)