Box Score
FORT WORTH, Texas — The consecutive set streak may have come to an end at 16 straight sets Southern Nazarene won, but the most important thing is that the match streak has now moved to six for SNU after it beat Texas Wesleyan, 3-1 (25-18, 26-28, 25-18, 25-14).
The Crimson Storm (19-4) dropped its first set in six matches, but SNU hasn't lost a match since Sept. 22.
Four different players posted double-figure kills for the Storm and four also recorded double-doubles on the night.
Natalia Oliveira led the way with a team-high 14 kills and was just two digs short of tying a season-high with 18. Oliveira also hit at a .400 clip.
Taylor Jacobs was just a kill shy of Oliveira and posted 11 digs and two blocks.
Ellen Martin ripped 12 kills and notched 16 digs to go with an ace and two blocks while hitting .303.
Kaylee Piatt dished out a match-high 50 assists and had 14 digs.
Kira Roberts also had 12 kills.
The Storm posted five team blocks and recorded 85 digs. The Storm hit .276 (61-18-156) and held TWU to just a .091 clip.
The Storm broke open the first set when SNU split a 3-3 tie with a 7-1 run that was capped by a Roberts kill. The Rams cut it to 11-9, but the Storm pushed the lead back out to 16-11 when Martin sparked a 5-2 run. TWU again cut the lead to 16-13, but
Jamie Hope ignited a 7-2 run as the Storm took their biggest lead of the set at 23-15 and took the set from there.
The Rams stormed out to a 14-7 lead and led 22-11 in the second set, before SNU scored nine straight, including three kills from Jacobs to cut it to 22-19. Texas Wesleyan held match point at 24-21 before the Storm scored three straight on two Oliveira kills and a TWU error. SNU tied it at 25 and 26 before the Rams closed the set with two straight to tie the match at 1-1.
The Storm jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the third set and didn't hold a lead until the final run in the set. SNU led 19-16 when Jacobs ripped a kill to start a 6-2 run to end the set and put the Storm up 2-1. SNU trailed 7-6 in the final set, but Martin sparked 19-7 run as SNU ran away with the fourth set and match.
SNU will now get set to host Wayland Baptist, Friday, at 5 p.m. before battling Lubbock Christian for second place in the SAC, Saturday, at 1 p.m. with both games being played in Broadhurst Gymnasium.
