Looking for payback from the Cardinals
10/13/2014 2:23:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Sam Houston volleyball team will be looking for payback Tuesday night when the Kats play host to Lamar in a 6:30 p.m. Southland Conference match at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
The Cardinals are responsible for the SHSU women's only loss in league action this season.
Lamar won in the conference opener for both teams September 27 in Beaumont. The victory came in the Cardinals' first home match of the year after going 0-12 in a month's worth of road contests.
Sam Houston took a two set lead, rallying from 22-16 down to win the opening stanza 26-24 and earning a win in the second set 25-21.
Lamar bounced back to win the final three sets 25-22, 25-17, 16-14 and walk away with its first victory of the year. Since then the Cardinals lost road matches at McNeese and Nicholls and won at home against Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian.
Sam Houston owns a four-match winning streak and stands in third place with a 4-1 league mark. They trail the only two remaining unbeaten teams, Central Arkansas (7-0) and Stephen F. Austin (6-0).
The Bearkats are eager to get the Cardinals on their home floor at Johnson Coliseum where Sam Houston stands 6-0 this year and owns an eight-match winning streak going back to last season.
“We talk a lot about protecting our house,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “When things got tight Saturday against Abilene Christian, that's what we said in the huddle -- protect this house, no matter what do not let the ball fall.”
Deveney Wells-Gibson leads the Bearkat attack. The senior outside hitter leads the Southland with 313 kills and stands third in the league in service aces (27).
The setter who delivers the ball to Wells-Gibson, Michelle Griffith, ranks atop the Southland in assists (725, 10.66 per set).
Other top offensive players for the Bearkats are Shelby Genung (156 points), Carling Urben (120 points) and Jordyn Vaughn (101 points.)
Libero Claire Kilpatrick has totaled 266 digs for a 3.91 per set average.
Cortney Moore is Lamar's top offensive threat with 212 kills this year to rank No. 8 in the league. Chelsea Grant is the Southland's leader in blocks with 88 this year.
Following Tuesday's match, the Bearkats will hit the road for a three-match swing as they travel to Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State.
Next home match for the team is Thursday, October 30, when the Kats play host to Houston Baptist.
