GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern volleyball had its mettle tested in the opening round of the SCAC Tournament, showing its resolve by coming back from two sets down to defeat Texas Lutheran University 3-2 and advance.
Lauren Crabtree led the team in kills with 13 in another triple-double performance, contributing 21 assists and 16 digs. She also added three block assists and an ace in the win.
The Pirates looked in control early, showcasing a balanced attack with Emma White, Riley Brantley, and Lauren Crabtree, each producing three kills in the first set, combining for nine of Southwestern's 14 on a .244 hitting percentage to take the set 25-18.
Texas Lutheran recovered in the second set, featuring a strong defense with six blocks and 24 digs, limiting Southwestern to a .020 hitting percentage. Southwestern stayed in the set in part due to the stellar play of Jess Kuras, who had five kills in the set on a .500 hitting percentage before leaving the match with an injury as the Bulldogs tied the match with a 25-21 win.
Things unraveled for Southwestern in the third set, finishing with as many errors (eight) as kills. At the same time, Texas Lutheran got nine combined kills from Paige Day and Hayden Smyers, finishing with 14 kills on a .379 hitting percentage as a team for the set, taking the lead with a 25-15 win.
Southwestern appeared to be in trouble in the fourth set, falling behind 12-6 on a block by Keriann Kallus and Day. With the season on the brink, Southwestern's two returning all-conference players rallied the Pirates. Crabtree produced a set-high six kills on nine attacks with one error, adding five assists and five digs. Brantley had four kills on five attacks for a .800 hitting percentage, leading the Pirates to a 25-23 win to even the match up.
The Pirates rode the momentum to an early 9-4 lead in the fifth and final set before Texas Lutheran rallied within one at 11-10. But an entire match of long rallies and diving digs appeared to wear on the Bulldogs, who committed a service error and two errors down the stretch to help Southwestern clinch the match with a 15-10 win.
"There are times in a season where every team has to have a gut check and find out how to battle together. This was a true team effort versus a quality defensive team in TLU," head coach Don Flora said. "It's hard to see Jess Kuras go down when she's hitting over .600, but we had major contributions from players coming in and giving us a lift. We found an offensive rhythm late, and that was the big difference for us pulling away. Lauren Crabtree carried quite an offensive load for us all night."
Crabtree posted her third consecutive triple-double and her sixth of the season, tied for the most in Division III so far. Southwestern improves to 9-4 and advances to face Trinity in the semifinals next weekend.
