Homebound: Southern recuperates on the road to return to Clifford Seymour Gym

Southwestern Athletic Conference play has not arrived yet and it has taken a toll on the Southern women’s volleyball team as they were swept in four more games in the past.
Besides falling first to University of Louisiana Lafayette on September 8, they were invited to the LA Tech Volleyball Invitational from September 11-12 in Ruston and fell against the three universities: Lamar, Louisiana Tech and University-Louisiana at Monroe.
First game brought a high of 8 kills by veteran middle blocker, Chinasa Ekewariri, in which Southern bolstered a valiant effort but fell in all three sets (14-25, 17-25, 16-25). In the early part of the game, Southern started with an early lead but then was separated by trialing efforts after UL-Lafayette took advantage of the attack errors by the double attack errors by Southern and capitalized until the end of the first set. The other two sets, Southern fell by the wayside when UL – Lafayette took the obvious early lead in the bout and Southern couldn’t muster to catch up.
Game highs were Chanelle Gardner of UL – Lafayette acquired 10 kills and two blocks. Katey Kyle as well as Hanna Rovira captured 9 kills and two blocks apiece.
On September 11, Southern then advanced into the LA Tech Volleyball Tournament, which led to falling to Lamar (12-25, 16-25, 19-25).
In the third set, an effort by Southern when they were at a deficit of seven points after a kill down the middle by junior outside hitter, Melodie Malone, (12-19): another kill by Malone followed by a service ace by Vaterra Calais, and two attack error by Amy Hollowell severed the gap between the two teams.
However despite the gap being severed, Southern still fell and was swept.
Then Southern rebounded in the two games they had to attack in the same day September 12, being LA Tech and UL-Monroe.
First against LA Tech, the Lady Jags came together and didn’t sequester more than a six-point deficit in all three sets (22-25, 21-25, 20-25).
In the first set, Southern was tied 10-10 against the opposition and after a service ace by Alejandra Avilles, Southern swept five points straight when four attack errors followed suit for LA Tech. However at the end of the bout, LA Tech took their errors and corrected the gameplay to send Southern to the same amount of errors to accost for the three point lead. After this first game, the other sets Southern fell but wasn’t severely beaten.
After Tech, the Lady Jags took their recoil damage in the next game against ULM and took the helm to attempt to not give up the first set. Southern and ULM battled for six lead changes in the game and the game was supposed to taken to 25 points, however the point value lead to 30 in which was ULM’s win.
ULM captured the fatigue of Southern after the valiant first set and dismantled their defensive efforts in the second and third sets.
ULM (7-5) captured the game in all sets (30-28, 25-14, 25-14).
Southern (0-9) now stands at the chopping block awaiting their first home game in Clifford Seymour Gym on September 15 against Southeastern Louisiana.