Volleyball competes successful spring tournament season
5/2/2008 1:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Sam Houston State volleyball team completed a successful spring season, participating in four top area college tournament.
March 20, the Bearkats split with Houston Baptist in the Rice tournament, winning 25-22 and losing 25-19. The Bearkats lost a pair of close games to Texas A&M 25-17 and 25-23.
In the first game, the Bearkats held a 5-3 lead when A&M went on a five-point scoring run to take the lead for good. Leading 22-17, Jenny Banse got a kill for the Aggies and then teamed with Jillian Phillips for a block to put A&M at game point. Phillips then teamed with Mary Batis for another block to give the Aggies the win.
A&M used a 10-point scoring run to pull away for a 25-12 victory in the second set to complete the sweep against the Bearkats.
With additional time remaining before the next match, the coaches agreed to play a set to 15 points. A&M fought off two set points at 14-12 and 15-14, and scored three consecutive points to regain the lead and close out the set and match.
Sam Houston also lost two nail-biters to Rice, falling 25-23 and 25-19.
In the Texas A&M tournament on April 5, Sam Houston State finished second in its pool, posting victories of Louisiana Tech (25-16 and 25-20), Houston Baptist (25-20 and 25-19) and Houston (25-20 and 25-18). The Bearkats finished the event with a match against LSU.
Sam Houston was tied 20-20 but fell 25-22 and 25-15.
In the Texas A&M tournament on April 5, Sam Houston took two games from Houston 25-20 and 25-18 and a pair from Houston Baptist 25-20 and 25-19.
Saturday, April 26, the Bearkats played in the Lamar Cardinal Invitational in Beaumont. Sam Houston defeated Lamar the first two games, 25-21, 25-23, then lost the third, 16-18, winning the match, 2-1
The Kats lost to McNeese the first two games, 25-27, and 14-25, and won the third, 15-12, losing the match, 1-2
Sam Houston beat Houston Baptist, 25-19, and 25-21, and lost the third 12-15.
"We improved every tournament, and this was a great end to our spring season," SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said. "Our girls are taking the training we are working on in the gym, and implementing the techniques into game situations, so that is a good thing, and will definitely benefit us in the regular (fall) season. We are all very excited for our core group going into the fall season. We are returning 6 of 7 starters (including the Libero), so 2008 looks very bright for Bearkat Volleyball."
The volleyball team also will a fund-raiser co-ed sand volleyball tournament, for any team on Wednesday, May 7th on the HKC Sand Courts.
