SWOSU Wins 2 at ATU

August 25, 2007

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- The Southwestern Oklahoma State University put together a string of impressive performances and won two of four matches against a tough field at the Arkansas Tech University Classic. The Bulldogs defeated Kansas Newman and Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State but came up just short against Alabama Huntsville and the host, ATU.

SWOSU’s next game will be its home opener Tuesday, Aug. 28 against Mid-American Christian. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Senior Kasandra Gurtner was named to the seven-person, all-tournament team for her high-level of play over the weekend. She came up with 56 kills in 14 games, an average of 4.0 per game.

SWOSU’s picked up an important regional victory over Tarleton State by scores of 30-19, 37-35 and 30-27. Gurtner made the deciding plays in the marathon second game. Her kill put SWOSU ahead 36-35, and she won the game on the 37th point by blocking a Tarleton player’s kill attempt.

Newcomer Kacia Sandburg showed just what impact she will have, leading the Bulldogs with 19 kills in the Tarleton win. Sandburg is a transfer from Seminole State. Senior Paula Harry also had double-figure kills against Tarleton, finishing with 11.

In SWOSU’s lopsided win over Kansas Newman, Gurtner had 17 of the team’s 54 total kills. The Bulldogs won by scores of 30-25, 30-24, 30-23. Defensively, Janna Green sparkled on the back row coming up with 21 digs to thwart the Jets’ offensive attack.

In the opener, SWOSU had Alabama Huntsville on the ropes before letting them escape. SWOSU led 2-1 in games before UAH rallied winning the fourth, 30-25, and closing the Bulldogs out 15-7 in the fifth. SWOSU came undone in the fifth, and struggled with a negative attack percentage with more errors (6) than kills (4).

The Bulldogs finished the tournament losing to Arkansas Tech by scores of 30-19, 30-19 and 30-22.