DURANT, Okla. — Southern Nazarene split its final two matches of the South Central Classic as it swept Western State (Colo.), 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17), before falling 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-21) to Washburn.
 
Kayla Thomas had a career-high five aces in the opening sweep. She also added nine kills, two blocks and two digs. Meagan Ellis had 11 kills and six digs while Bailee Turang had four blocks, seven kills and six digs. Kylie Smith dished out 28 assists and added five digs, three kills and a block. Makayla Shonamon also served a pair of aces and added eight digs. Makenna Hunter had four kills and three blocks.
 
SNU as a team hit  a season-high .313 (27-11-83) and had nine aces as a team. The Crimson Storm (3-5) also had six blocks.
 
The Storm closed the first set with a 9-2 run after it broke a 16-16 tie to lead 1-0. SNU had to rally in the second set as it trailed 13-8. A Mountaineer service error started a set-ending 17-4 run as Turang capped the set with a kill to put SNU on top 2-0. It was all Southern Nazarene in the final set as it raced out to a 16-6 lead in the third and cruised from there.
 
Turang tied a season-high with 16 kills in the second match as she just missed a double-double with nine digs. She also had two blocks. Ellis also had two blocks to go with nine digs and four kills.  Hunter had three blocks and four kills while Grimes had two blocks. Thomas had four blocks and five kills as well.
 
Smith had 28 assists to go with three aces and three digs. Logan Matthews had 15 digs while Shonamon had nine.
 
The Storm had six aces and seven blocks, but hit just .098 (21-21-102).