GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern volleyball used a balanced attack, and strong serve to sweep Texas Lutheran University with a pair of 3-1 victories in today's doubleheader.
"It's always a good thing to see your training during the week transfer to live volleyball on game day," head coach Don Flora said. "We have been focused on making good offensive decisions, and that work in practice transferred to our live play today."
Lauren Crabtree led the Pirates with 13 kills and added 16 assists and 12 digs to post her second consecutive triple-double in Southwestern's 3-1 victory over the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs in the first game of a doubleheader.
Southwestern had three players finish the match with double-digit kills, with Riley Brantley the most efficient, putting down 10 on 29 attacks with four errors for a .207 hitting percentage. She also assisted on three blocks with one solo block and two aces to tie Crabtree for a match-high 14.5 points. Crabtree hit at a .167 clip, and Emma White totaled 11 kills on a .159 hitting percentage with 17 digs, two block assists, a solo block, and two aces to record 14 points.
The Pirates stifled the Texas Lutheran attack with 93 digs, led by reigning SCAC Defensive Player of the Week Ali Grona, who recorded 16.
Southwestern set the tone with a strong serve game, serving short and finding gaps deep to record a conference season-high 12 aces against Texas Lutheran.
Texas Lutheran opened the match strong with their best set of the day, finding open court time and again to record 18 kills on 43 attacks for a .326 hitting percentage. The Bulldogs were able to hold off a late run by Southwestern, getting five kills in the set from Cailey Young.
The Bulldogs continued to get big swings in the second set, led by Tanyse Moehrig's five kills, but the Pirates were able to set a wall with four blocks and reduce the Texas Lutheran efficiency to a .111 hitting percentage.
Lauren Crabtree set the tone in the third set, recording three of the Pirates' five aces. She also had three kills in the set, recording six points while the defense held Texas Lutheran to just eight kills on a .033 hitting percentage.
With the defense locked in, Southwestern continued to press its advantage with the serve, recording four aces in the fourth set. The Pirates had the Bulldogs on their heels the entire set, limiting Texas Lutheran to a side-out percentage of 36.0.
Emma White led the Pirates with 14 kills on a .297 hitting percentage. Crabtree poster her third consecutive triple-double with 17 assists, 12 kills, and 12 digs. Riley Brantley had nine kills, four block assists, and a solo block, and Andie Valenzuela contributed seven kills, four block assists, and a solo block.
"Having the ability to pass and defend at a high level is really important against quality teams," Flora said. "Seeing us make good moves and seeing the attackers was a positive sign for us today."
With the win, the Pirates improves to 5-3, dropping Texas Lutheran to 1-9. Southwestern will host Centenary for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 3.
