FORT SMITH – With the regular season beginning to wind down, the UAFS volleyball team already has clinched one of the four spots in the Heartland Conference Tournament.
Now, the Lady Lions are looking to finish strong and capture their sixth-consecutive, regular-season conference title.
UAFS begins its final road trip of the regular season this week when it travels to the Lone Star State for a pair of league matches. First up is a pivotal match against St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.
The Lady Lions (21-6, 8-1) lead the conference by one match over the Lady Rattlers (15-10, 7-2), who were swept by UAFS in the first encounter on Oct. 7 at the Stubblefield Center. Each has three conference matches remaining and each had secured a spot in the conference tournament.
UAFS has won three matches in a row and is coming of a sweep of Dallas Baptist on Saturday at the Stubblefield Center. The Lady Lions have only four more regular-season matches left – at St. Mary’s, at Texas A&M International on Saturday and at home against Newman on Nov. 9 and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Nov. 10.
The Lady Lions has compiled a 0.225 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Anna Demmer leads the team in kills (380), kills per set (4.09) and aces (36). Junior middle hitter Debra Rogers leads the team in hitting percentage (0.283).
Senior setter Susannah Kelley leads the team in assists (1,079) and assists per set (10.9).
The Lady Lions have held opponents to a 0.140 hitting percentage. Rogers leads the team in solo blocks (32), block assists (88), total blocks (120) and blocks per set (1.21). Junior libero Autumn Reese leads the team in digs (710) and digs per set (7.17).
St. Mary’s had its seven-match winning streak snapped on Saturday with a five-set loss to Southwestern.
The Lady Rattlers have compiled a 0.185 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Channing Hankins leads the team in kills (313), kills per set (3.48), and junior middle blocker Jaycie Pluenneke leads the team in hitting percentage (0.263). Junior defensive specialist Monica Ramon leads the team in aces (37).
Sophomore setter Bree Perry leads the team in assists (898) and assists per set (9.76).
St. Mary’s has held opponents to a 0.186 hitting percentage. Hankins, senior opposite hitter Tarine Grace and MacKenzie Harless lead the team in solo blocks (five). Pluenneke leads the team in block assists (82), total blocks (85) and blocks per set (0.93). Ramon leads the team in digs (457) and digs per set (4.81).
