The Lion’s Roar / Jonathan Rhodes
Senior middle blocker Veronica Turk (above) hugged her coach after being honored before their game against. (bottom) Senior setter Mikayla Shippy celebrated with her teammates after making one of her four kills.
The Lady Lions volleyball team triumphed over Lamar University with a 3 sets to 0 win in the University Center this past Saturday for a Southland Conference match. The Lady Lions were able to shatter a three-match losing streak with this win, and it brings their record to 12-16 overall and 6-8 in the Southland Conference, securing them a spot in the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament.
“I thought it was one of our best team efforts,” said Head volleyball Coach Jim Smoot. “I think it was spirited by our serve receive. It really allowed us to run our offense and our back row defensive players made some unbelievable defensive plays that got the ball where we could get play off so we could initiate our attack.”
Before the game started, five seniors for the Lady Lions were honored. These seniors were Brooke Balser, Shelby Devlin, Mikayla Shippy, Tiffany Thomas and Veronica Turk.
The Lady Lions had an early lead in the first set at 6-2 thanks to a kill by junior middle blocker and outside hitter Landry Bullock. However, the Cardinals brought the game within three points after a Lady Lions error, making the score 12-9. But before the set was over, the Lady Lions went on a 13-4 run to finish 25-13 for the first.
In the second set, the Cardinals tried to keep the set closer, but the Lady Lions built up a six point lead, 18-12. The Cardinals brought the score within three, 22-20. However, after an error made by the Cardinals, senior middle blocker Turk and junior outside hitter Parrie Hartley followed with a combined block by taking the second set 25-20, giving the Lady Lions a two-set lead.
The third set was much more competitive as the Cardinals took a two-point lead early in the set, but the Lions continued the team effort. Bullock made a kill cutting the Cardinals lead to one. A kill by sophomore outside hitter Sarah Friedman gave the Lady Lions a score advantage of 15-14. The Lady Lions continued to pull away to finish the final set 25-18.
Bullock led the team with 15 kills. Shippy, who is now fourth on Southeastern’s all-time assists list, dished out a match-high of 34 assists. Turk completed one block and three block assists, moving into the Top 10 of all three blocking categories for the Lady Lions. Freshman defensive specialist Monica Ramon led with 11 digs.
“As a whole, we just played together and for each other,” said Bullock. “It was senior night so we really came together and just pulled out a win for our seniors.”
As part of the Alumni Day festivities and because of the Hall of Fame ceremonies, many former players were present at the game and were honored between the second and third sets.
The Lady Lions will have their final two regular season games this week. Their first one will be on the road against Nicholls tonight at 6:30 p.m., and their last game of the season will be at home in the University Center against Central Arkansas at 7:00 p.m.
The game against Central Arkansas is Smoot Fever Night, which means fans and students are encouraged to wear their best Hawaiian shirts. Prizes will be rewarded to the best dressed “Jim Smoot.” For more information, go to lionsports.net and look at the promotions page.