Ladyjacks Sweep Their Way to Southland Tournament Title
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NATCHITOCHES, La. – Stephen F. Austin will have the opportunity to continue their historic season following a 3-0 (25-21, 25-9, 25-23) sweep over No. 2 Central Arkansas Sunday afternoon to claim the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament Championship at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, La.
Stephen F. Austin turned in a dominant performance recording seven aces, 40 kills and a .337 team hitting percentage. Sophomore middle blocker Anyia Williams led the Ladyjack roster with nine kills, two solo blocks and six block assists. Makenzee Hanna joined Williams and Danae Daron on the All-Tournament team after posting eight kills for a team-leading .615 attack percentage.
Central Arkansas’ Samantha Anderson and Kellen Dunn were also named All-Tournament selections as the pair contributed 11 kills each. Haley Tippett added in nine kills and seven digs for the Sugar Bears in the championship match.
The Ladyjacks, now 32-2 overall this season, increase their winning streak to 29 matches while claiming their fifth Southland Conference Tournament title with the win over Central Arkansas. Though they have clinched their automatic qualification into the 2018 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships, Stephen F. Austin will now wait for the selection committee to announce their first-round opponent Sunday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Set One
Anderson recorded the first kill of the match and set the pace for the Sugar Bears who jumped out to a 15-13 lead heading into the media timeout. Stephen F. Austin returned from the break with five straight points to take a 17-15 lead. UCA’s Anderson recorded her fifth kill of the set with a rocket that ricocheted off SFA’s Haley Coleman to lock the score up at 21-21. Hanna responded with a kill for Stephen F. Austin that was followed by an ace from Sabrina Monaco to sway the momentum in favor of the Ladyjacks who closed out the set 25-21.
Set Two
SFA wasted no time in the second set overpowering the Sugar Bears at the net on the way to a commanding 16-5 lead. Central Arkansas called a timeout in an attempt to slow down the Ladyjack side; however, the Stephen F. Austin returned with seven unanswered points that extended their lead to 22-7. SFA’s Anyia Williams provided the finishing kill to round out a 25-9 victory. Daron led the Ladyjack attack with a perfect four kills on as many attempts that boosted her squad to a .609 hitting percentage in the set.
Set Three
Central Arkansas had no intention of going down without a fight as they pushed the third set to the limit, but Stephen F. Austin’s Anyia Williams once again came up with a crucial kill that claimed a 25-23 victory for the Ladyjacks. SFA found their way to a 10-4 lead early in the game, but a mid-set Central Arkansas push, highlighted by a kill from Anderson, brought the score even at 14-14. With the momentum in their favor, the Sugar Bears took a 20-18 advantage. Coleman stepped up for SFA with consecutive points that sparked a 7-2 run and concluded the match for the Ladyjacks.
All-Tournament Team
Mikayla Vivens, Houston Baptist
Taylor Cunningham, Sam Houston State
Kellen Dunn, Central Arkansas
Samantha Anderson, Central Arkansas
Makenzee Hanna, Stephen F. Austin
Anyia Williams, Stephen F. Austin
Danae Daron, Stephen F. Austin (Tournament MVP)