HUNTSVILLE - Anna Ferguson and Carli Kolbe each totaled 26 kills to lead Sam Houston State to a five-set Southland Conference volleyball victory over Stephen F. Austin.
The Bearkats won 24-26 25-22 22-25 27-25 15-11 to extend their winning streak to eight matches and continue their leadership of the Southland West Division with an 8-1 league mark.
Ferguson forced a fifth set with back-to-back kills to win the fourth frame 27-25, then had the match-winning kill for a 15-11 victory in the final set.
In a match where only the final set was decided by three points, the contest was tied 44 times with 17 lead changes.
"It was really up and down," Kolbe said. "I had times where I didn't play well, but everyone else is there to pick you up. It makes everything so much easier when you get that kind of support. That's why we were able to pull it out."
Kelsey Bailey led Stephen F. Austin with 21 kills. The Lumberjacks dropped to 16-10 for the year and 5-3 in Southland Conference. The Jacks came into the match in second place in the Southland East Division.
The victory marked the second time in a row for Sam Houston to defeat Stephen F. Austin in volleyball. Starting in 2004, SFA had run off 12 straight regular season wins over the Bearkats, but SHSU ended that streak in the Southland tournament in Nacogdoches last November, also in five sets.
Camille Alfaro also posted double figure kills for Sam Houston with 10. The Bearkats totaled 85 winners as a team with 71 kills in 193 attempts, two services aces and 12 blocks.
"Despite some serving problems (16 errors), we were able to control the ball, stay engaged and not lose focuse of what we were doing," SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said. "We don't panic. This team listens and they are coachable."
That team trait showed most in the fourth set when, up two sets to one and ahead 20-16, SFA appeared headed for victory. The Kats won 11 of the next 16 points to stay alive.
"Everyone played well," Ferguson said. "I was so excited. It just shows as long as we pick up our game we can win."
Kolbe led Sam Houston's front line, taking part in seven blocks. SFA produced 80 winners with 61 kills, five service aces and 14 blocks.
The eight-match winning streak is the longest for Sam Houston State since the Bearkats' Southland Conference championship season of 1994. The 8-1 league start is the Kats' best ever in Southland play.
Sam Houston State will play host to McNeese State Saturday at 4 p.m.
Admission to Sam Houston volleyball is $5 for adults and $3 for youth.
Tickets for all Sam Houston athletic events may be ordered on line at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
