SHSU aims to stop SFA win streak Thursday
10/22/2014 9:20:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Bearkats and the Lumberjacks duel Thursday in Nacogdoches at 6:30 p.m. in the latest renewal of the volleyball “Battle of the Piney Woods” between Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin.
Volleyball meetings between the pair truly are “battles” with eight of the last 10 contests going either four or five sets.
This year's first meeting between the pair has importance not only to the participants but to the overall Southland Conference race this fall.
Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas stand as the only two unbeaten teams in league action. UCA stands 10-0 while SFA is 9-0.
Sam Houston lost a tough five-setter to Central Arkansas last Saturday and now must regroup to face the Jacks on their home floor at Shelton Gym.
From 2002 to 2007, SFA did not lose a match to the Bearkats. But Sam Houston ended that streak in Nacogdoches in 2008, upsetting SFA on its home floor in the Southland Conference tournament. Since then, the SHSU women have won seven of the 10 meetings between the two programs.
Sam Houston dropped the Jacks in straight sets, 25-20 25-23 26-24, in the pair's last meeting last year in Nacogdoches.
Stephen F. Austin brings a 16-7 overall record into Thursday's match. Since losing to Rice in their final non-conference contest in September, the Jacks have run off nine straight wins, dropping only one set in the process.
Sam Houston enters the fray with a 12-8 overall mark.
Deveney Wells-Gibson, a three-time Southland Conference offensive player-of-the-week winner this fall, leads the Southland Conference with 357 kills, an average of 4.76 per set.
Carling Urben (127 kills), Shelby Genung (125) and Jordyn Vaughn (102) also provide firepower for the Kat attack.
Defensively, libero Claire Kilpatrick has totaled 318 digs and 468 service receptions. Kilpatrick was honored as the league's defensive player-of-the-week winner Monday. The sophomore ranks sixth in the league in digs.
Genung leads the Kats' front line with 48 blocks.
Setter Michelle Griffith, who has 827 assists on Sam Houston's 1,011 kills this year, leads the Southland in her specialty.
Stephen F. Austin will counter with outside hitter Jill Ivy who ranks sixth in the league in kills (289). Setter Paige Holland runs the floor for the Lumberjacks. SFA's O. J. Olson ranks second in the Southland in digs with 5.18 per set.
Following Thursday's match in Nacogdoches, Sam Houston will complete its three-match road swing at Northwestern State Saturday afternoon.
The next home match for the Bearkats will be Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 against Houston Baptist.
