SWOSU Drops Three at LSC Crossover Tournament

October 18, 2005

Denton, TX - Southwestern Oklahoma State played what many considered to be the most exciting of all the Lone Star Conference Crossover volleyball contests extending powerful West Texas A&M to four games before bowing 30-27, 30-22, 35-37, 30-14 Saturday in Denton, Texas.

The Bulldogs, who lost earlier in the tournament to nationally-ranked Abilene Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville, are now 4-20 on the year. SWOSU next plays at home Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. against Texas A&M-Commerce and Saturday, Oct. 22 at 12 noon against Southeastern Oklahoma.

Against WTAM, SWOSU put together its best game of the tournament. The Bulldogs lost a spirited first two games 30-27 and 30-22 before putting together a thriller in game three. SWOSU needed six game points but finally put away the stubborn Buffs when Janna Green smashed home a kill for a 37-35 win. The emotional third-game appeared to zap the Bulldogs’ energy as they went quietly in the fourth, losing 30-14.

Krista Butler led SWOSU with 12 kills while Green and Tennessee Brown each added 10 for the Bulldogs. SWOSU finished the game hitting at a .120 clip compared to WTAM’s .240 hitting percentage.

SWOSU did not fair as favorably against ACU losing 30-19, 30-17 and 30-18. SWOSU finished with more errors (26) than kills (24) and came under constant pressure from the Wildcats’ heavy hitters. SWOSU ended the game hitting in negative territory at -.020 while ACU clicked along at a .236 pace.

In the tournament’s first match, SWOSU played evenly with TAMK for the most part before losing in four games, 28-30, 30-18, 30-23 and 30-28.

SWOSU won the opening game when back-to-back attack errors by the Javelinas gave the Bulldogs a 30-28 win. TAMK won games two and three comfortably before being pushed in the fourth, emerging with a 30-28 win.