DURANT, Okla. – In the 2019 regular season finale, Southern Nazarene hit the road one final time and silenced Southeastern Oklahoma State 3-1 to build some momentum heading to Hot Springs next week.
 
The Crimson Storm (21-10, 10-6 GAC) did exactly what they needed to do on Thursday night as their victory gives them some rhythm before departing to the Great American Conference Championships next weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They tallied 10 blocks against the Savage Storm (3-25, 2-14 GAC) which is the second-most in a match this season for SNU. The Storm defense was strong in Durant as they held SEOSU to a .123 hitting clip and forced 25 errors in the match.
 
Although SNU committed 12 service errors, they posted a .250 hitting percentage including 55 assists and four service aces as well. Senior Bailee Turang went out with a bang in her final regular season match of her career as she finished with a game-high 21 kills on a .294 clip to go along with 16 digs. The Storm's other senior Kylie Smith also had a fantastic finish to her regular season career as she tallied 44 assists to go along with eight digs and five kills.
 
For the fourth straight match, Meagan Ellis reached double-figures in the kill category as she tallied 11 to go along with 17 digs. Ellis closed the regular season on a strong note, tallying double-figure kills in seven of the last eight matches. Kayla Thomas finished with 10 kills and a couple of blocks while Bailey Grimes posted eight kills and three blocks. Sunny Batschelett came off the Storm bench to add three kills and three blocks as well. Breckynn Myers has really come on strong for SNU in the last few matches as she tallied a career-high 21 digs off the bench for the Storm.
 
Southern Nazarene came out in the first set a little sluggish as they hit just .143 and recorded eight errors in the frame. Southeastern hit their highest percentage in any set at .179 and a couple of aces as they took a 19-15 lead. SNU tried to get back in it by cutting it to 23-21, but the Savage Storm closed out the Crimson Storm to take the early 1-0 lead.
 
SNU came back swinging in the second stanza as they hit .345 and had three aces. They held Southeastern to a .077 clip as the Crimson Storm leaped out to a 16-10 advantage. They later pushed their lead to 21-11 and cruised to the set victory to tie the match 1-1. SNU's defense was on full display in the third set as they once again held the Savage Storm to below .100 as SNU took a 12-6 lead. Southeastern tried to make it interesting however as they cut it to 16-15 before SNU went on a 6-0 run and that was too much for SEOSU.
 
After taking the 2-1 set lead, Southern Nazarene wanted to turn the lights out on Southeastern's Senior Night as they hit .302 in the fourth frame. After the set was tied 12-12 and later 17-17, the Crimson Storm had enough. They ripped off a 5-0 run to take a 22-17 lead and Southeastern couldn't put any pressure on SNU as the Crimson Storm cruised to their 10^th conference victory of the season.
 
Southern Nazarene will now play the waiting game as they discover who they'll be playing in the first round of the GAC Championships next week. They are currently tied in the standings at fifth with Harding, who SNU does have the tiebreaker over. More information will be released upon the final bracket's announcement.