Volleyball Falls in Home Opener to DBU, 3-1

August 30, 2006

Weatherford, OK -Southwestern Oklahoma State’s search for its first win of the 2006 volleyball season was extended a bit further as the Bulldogs came up short in a 3-1 loss to visiting Dallas Baptist Tuesday in Weatherford. DBU won by scores of 30-20, 25-30, 30-24, 30-25. The loss dropped SWOSU to 0-5 on the year while the Patriots improved to 2-3.

After splitting the first two games, the Bulldogs looked to have things going their way midway through the third taking an 18-17 lead on a kill by Janna Green (5-7, Jr., OH, Owasso). However, DBU battled back outscoring SWOSU 8-2 in a critical stretch to take command and win the third game, 30-24.

SWOSU stayed within striking distance late in the fourth and got within one point at 26-25 when Kasandra Gurtner (MB, 6-1, Jr., Cimarron, Kan.) came up with a big kill. That would be SWOSU’s final points as the Patriots won the next four to sew up the match.

Ashley Pettit (5-11, So., OH, Sulphur Bluff, Texas) came up with her biggest game of the year for SWOSU collecting 15 kills on 35 attacks with only eight errors. Gurtner added 14 kills on 37 attacks with just four errors.

SWOSU will next play a pre-determined, four-game tournament at Angelo State on Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs face University of Texas Permian Basin and Western New Mexico on Friday and follow up against Lone Star Conference rivals Cameron and the host school, ASU on Saturday.

SWOSU will next be at home Tuesday, Sept. 5 when they host a triangular tournament featuring Texas Wesleyan and Wayland Baptist. SWOSU plays TWU at 3 p.m., TWU plays WBU at 5 p.m. before SWOSU and Wayland conclude the action with a 7 p.m. contest.