HAYS, Kansas – Coming off a thrilling, home-opening victory against Central Oklahoma last Tuesday, Southern Nazarene Women's Volleyball continued their stretch of pre-conference play, heading north to Kansas for a four-match weekend at the Tiger Classic.
SNU played through two tough matches on Day 1 of the tournament. The Storm (4-3, 0-0 GAC) battled through five sets against Minnesota State – Mankato, dropping the match 3-2 (25-14, 25-21, 26-24, 25-22, 15-12) to the Mavericks (4-2, 0-0 NSIC).
SNU never got a rhythm in their second game against Fort Hays State, falling to the Tigers (4-3, 0-0 MIAA) in three straight sets (25-23, 25-18, 25-16).
Game 1
Both squads went back and forth for the majority of the first set until a 3-0 run by the Storm put them ahead 16-12 and forced MSMU to take a time-out. SNU continued to pack on the points, outscoring the Mavericks 9-1 late in the set to snatch set 1, 25-14.
SNU stayed the course, but the Mavericks applied pressure, tying the game six different times to then break out for a three-point lead at 20-17. Three quick kills from
Sunny Batschelett and
Whitney Bowie were not enough to cut the deficit and MSU took set 2, 25-21.
Sunny Batschelett hit a milestone in set 2, reaching her 1000
th career kill, becoming just the 12
th player in SNU Volleyball history to hit the mark.
With the match tied at 1-1, SNU looked to turn up the heat. Three consecutive attack errors by the Mavericks gave SNU a boost midway through set 3. This boost turned into an 8-1 scoring run, putting the Storm ahead by seven with just a few points left to seal the deal.
The Mavericks gave SNU a scare late in set 3, going for three unanswered points to force an SNU timeout. The teams traded kills in the final possessions, but the set came down to a 24-24 tie, off an MSU service ace. Two attack errors sealed SNU's fate and Mankato claimed set 3, improving to 2-1 in the match.
Mankato jumped out to a 12-8 lead in the fourth set but two errors and two SNU kills put SNU at a draw with the Mavericks. Back-to-back service aces from
Rayanna Mauldin midway through the set put SNU ahead by four, but the Storm slipped up with errors and Mankato took advantage, tying the game at 20 all. SNU powered through to match point as Batschelett secured set 4 with a kill, tying the match at 2-2 to force a fifth set.
The fifth and final set teetered between both squads. SNU saw some light after a few Maverick errors lifted the Storm to a 7-3 lead. This lead was soon erased as Mankato fought back, tightening the game up at 12-12. The Mavericks were unstoppable in the final few possessions, exploding for three consecutive kills to take the Game 1 win, 3-2.
Game 2
Taking down New Mexico Highlands in their first game of the tournament, Fort Hays State was locked and loaded for Game 2 with SNU, winning set one 25-23.
That opening set was even on both sides of the net. The largest lead by any team came late in the set when a Tiger kill put them ahead by five, just two points away from set victory. SNU rallied back for five unanswered point to tie the game at 23 all. FSU pulled through with a kill and an SNU error, claiming set 1, 25-23.
The Tigers' hot streak carried over into set 2, building a 6-1 lead to set the Storm back. SNU continued to play catch up and answered every Tigers attack to eventually tie the set at 10-10. Fort Hays kept their distance by just a few points the remainder of the set, capitalizing on Storm errors and dominating on the offensive side. SNU was unable to keep up, falling short by seven in set 2.
Now up 2-0, Fort Hays looked to put the Storm away early. Rounds of kills boosted the Tigers to a 9-3 lead, which gave them enough cushion the remainder of the set. SNU pieced together solid offensive possessions, putting them within three of the Tigers at 18-15. FHSU felt the pressure and ignited a 7-1 scoring run that left SNU with a tough 3-0 loss by a final score of 25-16
Up next
Southern Nazarene will have two more matches at the Tiger Classic, taking on Cameron at noon and New Mexico Highlands at 4 p.m.
