Volleyball Hosts Demons To Open Up Weekend
10/19/2016 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Matches 21-22
Saturday, Oct. 20 • 6:30 pm • Huntsville, Texas • Health & Kinesiology Center
Sam Houston State (9-11, 3-4 SLC) vs Northwestern State (11-13, 6-3 SLC)
Live Stats • @BearkatsVB on Twitter
Saturday, Oct. 22 • 2 p.m. • Huntsville, Texas • Health & Kinesiology Center
Sam Houston State (9-11, 3-4 SLC) vs Central Arkansas (10-11, 4-5 SLC)
Live Stats • @BearkatsVB on Twitter
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Sam Houston State Bearkat volleyball team returns to Huntsville this week, kicking off a stretch of five of its next seven matches at home on Thursday when it hosts Northwestern State.
The Kats will follow that up with a matinee match against Central Arkansas on Saturday. Both matches will be played at the Health & Kinesiology Center while renovations continue at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Admission is free.
With nine matches remaining in the regular season, the Kats are currently in a nine-team logjam in the middle of the Southland Conference standings as just 2.5 games separate third and 11th place on the league ladder. Both the Demons and Sugar Bears come into the week as part of that group as well with Northwestern State currently holding on to the third spot in the SLC standings, just a game back of second-place Stephen F. Austin. Meanwhile, UCA comes in one spot ahead of the Bearkats.
Sam Houston is coming off a tough five-set loss at Abilene Christian on Saturday as the Wildcats finished off a weekend sweep of the Kats and SFA to remain undefeated at home this season and move into fifth place in the league.
Despite the short roster, the Kats still got the second 20-kill match of the year from Brooke White, who has been a go-to hand of late, averaging 3.20 kills per set over her last six matches. Jordyn Vaughn and Taylor Cunningham added 16 kills apiece as five Kats had at least 10 in a match that saw Sam Houston better ACU in kills, aces and digs.
Meanwhile, senior setter Michelle Griffith continues to lead the SLC in assists per set in league matches. After 43 more dimes on Saturday, she has upped her total to 3,080 for her career which ranks seventh on the all-time SHSU list and just 88 behind Rachel McFarland for sixth.
“It was something I had never experienced before,” Gray said. “But I thought we played well. We tried to go at it with a game plan of everyone just doing their job and playing at the highest percentage their body could play at right now. ACU has done some good things there over the past few years, including beating SFA just before playing us. We are disappointed that we lost the match but in hindsight we are pleased with how we played considering the situation.”
Northwestern State comes into Thursday after splitting a pair of matches last weekend at home against New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana, including a five-set loss on Saturday to the Lions. The Demons rank fourth in the SLC in hitting percentage and third in service aces in league play, while freshman Alexis Warren will bring a streak of five consecutive double-doubles after going for 22 kills and 18 digs against Southeastern.
The Sugar Bears on the other hand, took care of business against the same teams last weekend, putting an end to a four-match losing streak with two wins over the Lions and Privateers.
THE SERIES
vs Northwestern State
The Kats are 44-6 all-time against the Demons after sweeping Northwestern State in two matches in 2015. Sam has defeated Northwestern State nine straight times in Huntsville with the last home loss coming in 2002.
vs Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas owns an 8-4 advantage all-time against Sam Houston with all matches being played since the Sugar Bears joined the Southland Conference for the 2006 season. The teams split two matches last year with each team winning on the road.
