SHAWNEE, Okla.—Southern Nazarene ended up on the wrong side of a very tight four set contest with Oklahoma Baptist as the Bisons overcame an SNU win in set one to take the next three sets (23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-18).
The first three sets of the match were all decided by just two points. Southern Nazarene (6-9, 2-3 GAC) took the first game 25-23, but Oklahoma Baptist (9-8, 3-1 GAC) responded with 25-23 and 26-24 wins in the next two games. The Bisons then handled business in the fourth set to close out the match.
The Crimson Storm were a force on offense in the first set. They hit .412 as a team and were led by Sunny Batschelett and Shantalle Demirjian. The duo combined for 11 kills in the first set and helped SNU fend off the Bisons for a game one win. Batschelett finished the match with 16 kills, while Demirjian added 11.
Game two saw Oklahoma Baptist build a 13-8 lead, but the Storm battled back to draw the set within one point. They never got over the hump, though, as service errors proved costly for the Storm. OBU's final two points of the set came on SNU service errors. The Crimson Storm committed seven service errors to just two aces in the match.
SNU was again on the verge of a set win in the third game but they let a 23-22 lead slip away. The Bison scored four of the final five points of the game, allowing them to take a 2-1 lead and giving them a huge advantage in the match.
Riding high off the momentum in game three, Oklahoma Baptist used a late surge in the fourth set to seal the match. With the game tied 13-13, OBU rattled off 12 of the next 17 points to win the most convincing game of the match, 25-18.
Along with Batschelett's phenomenal 16 kill performance, Whitney Bowie also added 16 kills. She was instrumental in keeping SNU close in sets two and three with five kills in each game.
Kaley Brubaker assisted on 46 kills in the match while also digging out 6 attacks.
The Storm were active defensively with three members in double-digits for digs. Madeline Lynch led the way with 15, and was followed by 13 from Breckynn Myers and 12 from Tatum Smith.
SNU will look to get back to their winning ways next time out in a non conference road match with Newman. Southern Nazarene and Newman have not met since 2018 when the Storm swept the Jets in Bethany. First serve is set for Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. The Crimson Storm will return home on Sept. 29 to host Ouachita Baptist at 6 p.m.
