Drovers Get Right with Sweep at Langston

LANGSTON, Okla. – Thursday night, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (9-14, 6-10 SAC) got back in the win column with a three-set sweep at Langston University (1-21, 0-16 SAC). 

With five matches remaining on the schedule for the regular season, the Drovers sit in seventh place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, 0.5 games ahead of Oklahoma Panhandle State University in eighth. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in the conference will compete in the SAC Tournament, with a bid to the NAIA National Championship tournament on the line. USAO has qualified for the SAC Tournament as the No. 8 seed in each of the last two seasons. 

On Thursday, both teams traded points for the first 40 (20-20) points of the match, but the Drovers closed the set strong to earn a 25-20 victory in the opening set. USAO got off to a 4-0 start in the second set and led 13-8 midway through the set. The Drovers went on to win the second set 25-19 and took a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. 

The third set was once again closely contested, but USAO managed to come away with the 25-23 victory to wrap up the match.

At the conclusion of the match, the USAO offense produced 42 kills on an impressive .247 attack percentage, while Langston had 33 kills on a .220 attack percentage. The Drover defense contributed 31 digs and 2.0 total blocks, while the Lions had 21 digs and 10.0 blocks. USAO scored on seven aces, while Langston scored on three aces. 

The USAO offense was led by Victoria Southerland's incredible performance, concluding with 16 kills on a .500 attack percentage. Southerland also added a pair of aces and a trio of digs on defense. 

Isaline Jacqucemyn contributed eight kills on a .313 attack percentage, and she also added five digs. Gabrielle Gunnoe closed with five kills, followed by Giselle Calderon and Bruna Duarte with four kills apiece. 

Madison Garcia distributed a team-high of 17 assists, along with two aces and five digs. Kalaya Pierce dished out 14 assists and scored on a pair of aces and a pair of kills. 

Yaiza Larrauri led the defense with nine digs, along with four assists and an ace. Andrea Maldonado closed with seven digs and a pair of assists.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Tuesday, October 24 as they host their final non-conference match of the regular season against Philander Smith (Ark.). First serve is scheduled for 5:00 PM CT inside Drover Fieldhouse.

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