Lady Wildcats Finish First Volleyball Weekend

9/10/2017 3:31:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

On the second day of the Austin College Invitational, the Louisiana College volleyball team showed that the future of the program and the season is certainly bright despite dropping both matches on the day in straight sets. LC gave the Sul Ross State Lobos everything they wanted and more in each of the three sets of their first match of the day, and the host Austin College, relied on a tall, experienced front to end the weekend's festivities.

In the early stages of the match with the Lobos, it seemed as if the mistakes that haunted LC the night before were back on day two. But after falling behind 12-6, a timeout by Sul Ross backfired, giving the39 Wildcats a chance to settle themselves. A Lobo service error started a run of five straight points, that included two aces from the lone Wildcat senior Taylor Payne, and put LC right back in the match, only down by one.

The Lobos pulled away momentarily after the Wildcat run, but LC battled right back and tied the set on two different occasions at 22 and 23 points apiece. The Lobos, however where able to find a kill and an ace on back-to-back attempts to finish the first set in their favor, 25-23.

Down 23-17 in the second set, it was another timeout, this time called by LC, that sparked the Wildcats. Kills by Paris Babino and Sadi Jones pulled LC within three, then another pair of kills from Jones on back-to-back attempts got them within a point, and an attack error by Sul Ross tied the set at 24 before the run ended. With their first set win in their sights, it was a service error and attack error by the Wildcats that ended their hopes of taking the second set, going down 26-24.

The third set played out similarly to the first and second, as it came down to the wire for who would end of taking the set victory. The Lobos benefited from a close call by the line judge on a service ace that tied the set at 21, which was followed by three LC attack errors giving Sul Ross three of the final four points they would need to close out the match.

Paris Babino led the Wildcats with 10 kills in the match, and made 11 digs for a volleyball version of a "double-double". Olivia Huval led LC in digs once again with 22, and Brennen Parker contributed 28 assists.

In the final match of the weekend, the experience of the Austin College front and their blocking ability proved to be too much for the Wildcats to overcome. With multiple players standing over 6'0" tall, it was difficult for LC to find space between the long arms of the Kangaroo blockers. Austin College had a total of 12 blocks in the game, compared to only two for the Wildcats.

The length of the Roos combined with their ability to power their attacks at the Wildcat defense led to a 39-22 difference in the number of kills for the teams.
"I think the girls went into the match a little timid," head coach Brittany Salloum. "Whether that was subconscious or not, after watching them warm-up. Our starters are average as far as height is concerned, and made up almost entirely of freshmen, compared to their six-foot-all-senior-starters.

"They fought hard, but Austin College played like a well-oiled machine. It was hard to find a place to put the ball where they wouldn't pick it up. That was their first taste of that level of competition, and they did the best they could after a long weekend."

Although the Wildcats may have gone 0-4 in their opening weekend of matches, Salloum was still please with the fight and heart her team displayed against their first taste of college volleyball.

"The girls should be proud of how they played," Salloum said. "I was impressed with their ability to dig themselves out of a hole time and time again. They handled it well. We have a lot to work on, a lot to fine-tune, and a lot to look forward to."

The Wildcats will make the trip to Centenary College in Shreveport on Wednesday before their first official home and American Southwest Conference match on Friday evening in H.O. West Fieldhouse. Stay connected with Louisiana College volleyball all season by following @LC_wvolleyball on Twitter and liking them on Facebook.

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