Divide and Conquer: Lady Jags prepare to end the season strong

Near the end of the season, there’s one thing on the mind of the women’s volleyball team and that matter of fact is the coveted, Southwestern Athletic Conference title. After last week’s tourney at senior night, Marisol Macias, anticipated that Southern had the best players of the SWAC. Now the Lady Jags (3-3, 8-12) capture the third seed to continue on to further conference play. The name of the game at the end of the season is to stay healthy, strong, and positive and that’s what the Lady Jags have exhibited this season.
While traveling to Arkansas on October 27 to meet up against University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, after their clean sweep against Grambling, unfortunately the Lady Jags met the same fate as their previous combatants with the sweep (3-0).
Four days before the ghouls and goblins revived themselves on the horrid holiday of Halloween, they stepped onto the court vying to continue the momentum on senior night to grab another win, not just a win but hopefully a clean sweep. Quite frankly, with a conditioned team, it was liable but with stiff competition down the stretch it was seen far from reach.
In the first set, backtracking their ways at Clifford Seymour Gym, the Lady Jags let the first set slip from their grasp. The set began with UAPB leading with four until SU cleared the stretch and playing with intensity, never staying three points behind. Nearing the conclusion of this set, the Lady Jags bounced battled clean and vigorous as they tied twice, (15-15) and (17-17). After the miscalculated attack error from Leila Lealaimatafao the set ended sadly, (25-20).
The momentum gradually shifted in the second set but SU clawed for the long and anticipated second set win to capsize the Lady Lion’s defense when they made continuous errors. The game balanced from (8-8) tie after Macias committed a drastic attack error. That wasn’t the giving up point for the Jags as they suited up to continue a lead the Lady Lions by a slight but watched lead. Near the end of the set, the two teams collided as the ending set point of 25 did not conclude the match. Unfortunately as was in the first set the Lady Lions caught the set (27-25) due to a kill by Lions Kayla Dowdell and Jags Phalen Clark being subdued to an error.
The sweep was imminent as right away as the Lady Lions on their home court initiated a lead that struck the Lady Jags hard and heavy. Sadly they left no room for “precious” error as they set in for kills and to let SU have errors. The Lady Jags saw déjà vu of the sweep as they concluded the third set (25-19).
Nearing the conclusion of the set, the Lady Jags return to conditioning as they ready for more conference play and for now they take a well needed rest to continue to draw the season to continue into conference glory.