Bearkats host Nicholls Thursday Night at 6:30
10/1/2015 4:40:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Down two sets to one and 21-16 in the fourth set at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, the Sam Houston volleyball team was on the brink of suffering its first Southland Conference loss of the young 2015 season Tuesday night.
But setter Michelle Griffith set up freshman Taylor Cunningham for three straight kills in the middle to start a rally that saw the Bearkats come back and win both the fourth and fifth sets to extend their league record to 2-0 on the road.
“We haven't had a comeback like that in a few years,” Sam Houston head coach Brenda Gray said. “It was really exciting and a great team effort.”
Now the Bearkats return to their home floor at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum for a pair of important matches Thursday and Saturday. Sam Houston hosts Nicholls at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and McNeese State on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The Bearkats bring a three-match winning streak into the contest, also having posted wins over Bryant at the Charleston Invitational and Lamar in Sam Houston's league opener last Friday.
A combination of youth and experience is powering the Bearkat surge. Sophomore Brooke White leads the team with 202 kills, an average of 3.48 per set. White also has totaled 145 digs and 21 blocks.
Juniors Shelby Genung and Breanna Homer have been contributing both offensively and defensively. Genung has 87 kills, 86 digs and leads the team with 34 blocks. Homer is second on the squad with 179 digs and has totaled 25 kills.
Cunningham had a season best 22 kills in the victory at Northwestern State Tuesday. Madison Wallace led the team with 14 kills in the Lamar victory. Both players are freshmen. Junior Sarah Sherman has added 20 blocks.
Griffith is one of the conference's leaders in assists with 582 (10.1 per set). Libero Claire Kilpatrick has totaled 240 digs for a 4.24 average per set.
Tickets for Sam Houston volleyball are available online at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston ticket office on the west side of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Call the ticket office at (936) 294-1729 for more information.
