The Lady Lions have picked up some momentum as they have won two out of the past three games. The next three games will all be home games during Homecoming Week as they look to start a winning streak.
William Schmidt/The Lion's Roar
Lady Lions volleyball finally earned a victory defeating Nicholls State in their annual Dig Pink game after four straight losses.
The game was won 3-1 last Tuesday in the University Center. The Lady Lions record is now 4-16 overall and 3-4 in the Southland Conference.
“It’s kind of like the weight of the world has been lifted off our shoulders,” said Head Coach Jim Smoot. “We know we are a good team. We just haven’t been able to pick up the victories so, I think this game is a real encouragement for the girls. They know what they can do.”
Freshman outside hitter Chloee Holden led the team with 14 kills followed by senior outside hitter Madi Odom who had 11 kills. Senior middle blocker Rachael Bunn had 10 kills hitting a .400 attack percentage and two blocks placing her 5th on the all-time Lady Lions career blocks list.
The Lady Lions won the first set but lost the second. It took determination for the team to close out the game in the final two sets.
“I think sometimes we let down after we win a game or two,” said Bunn. “We didn’t let down in this one and we just kept on being consistent and just kept going after the ball.”
Odom and sophomore setter Haley Baker had a double-double. Baker finished with her career high 14 digs and 28 assists. Odom had 15 digs to go with her 11 kills. Sophomore libero Monica Ramon led the team with 26 digs.
“I think our serve receive overall was really good,” said Smoot. “We got in trouble in the second set where we weren’t passing well and we had a lot of hitting errors. Tactically we ran through the middle to Rachael and Savannah. That looked like it was really successful so we really emphasize going to our middle blockers and that opened up the other hitters too.”
Despite the losing streak, the Lady Lions still have a chance to make it and win the Southland Conference Tournament.
“I think we should be one of the top four teams,” said Smoot. “We have a lot of freshmen that don’t understand, and we are telling them that ‘All we have to do is be in the top eight and be playing well then you can win the tournament. That’s always been our goal, to make it to the tournament and then to win it, that’s the second goal. So, we’re right on track.”
The team will be preparing in practice for their next few games and will try to correct any mistakes they noticed on the court.
“Usually we’re gonna look at what the team we will be playing does a lot and we are going to adjust to what they do,” said Bunn. “So if they tend to hit a lot of the middle stuff then we’re gonna on us blocking them and see what their angles are and work on that.”
The Lady Lions lost their match at Central Arkansas in three straight sets on Oct. 13. However, they won on Oct. 15 at Northwestern State, who is second place in the conference, 3-2. Senior outside hitter Madi Odom finished the game with 12 kills and 20 digs.
The Lady Lions will be facing McNeese State in the University Center tonight at 7 p.m. It is Smoot Fever so fans are encouraged to wear a Hawaiian shirt in honor of Coach Smoot.