Volleyball Opens Conference Play with 3-1 Weekend

Volleyball Opens Conference Play with 3-1 Weekend

SHREVEPORT, La. — The Southwestern University Pirates volleyball team closed out its SCAC Group A Divisional with a 3-1 conference record after falling to the No. 11-ranked Colorado College Tigers in four sets. 

Southwestern was strong through the first three sets before things fell off the rails a little in the fourth. The Pirates hit .212 as a team to open the match, picking up a 25-21 win in the first set. They battled through the next two, losing the second in extra points, 26-24, and falling 25-23 in the third set. 

The Colorado College defense came to life in the fourth set, limiting Southwestern to three kills while the Pirates committed 10 attack errors to hit -.250. 

"It was a strong weekend with a lot of good volleyball for us. We competed at a high level all weekend," Head Coach Don Flora said. "Having three valuable wins is important. And getting after it and playing elite college volleyball versus Colorado College shows us where we are and what type fo team we are becoming. Each day with this team is about learning and competing." 

  • Three different Pirates finished with nine kills, though Lauren Crabtree was the only one who did so efficiently, hitting .286 on 21 attempts and producing 13 digs.

  • Emma White also had nine kills and a career-high 19 digs, finishing with double-digit digs all four matches this weekend.

  • Katelyn Whitehead led the Pirates with 33 assists.

  • Southwestern struggled to find attack lanes against the Colorado College block. The Tigers finished with 18 block assists and one solo block, getting four block assists each from Georgia Mullins and Emma Hewlin. When it did break through, there were few open spots on the floor with the Tigers recording 92 digs. 

The Pirates finish the weekend with a 9-5 record on the season, including 3-1 in SCAC play. Southwestern play back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday, facing Concordia Texas on the road on Sep. 24 and hosting Our Lady of the Lake University on Sep. 25.