CANYON, Texas – The No. 5 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs fought and won in five sets against the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (25-20, 26-24, 18-25, 21-25, 15-12) in Weatherford, Okla. on Tuesday night in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Buffs started down in the first set 2-7 against the Bulldogs before making a run midway through to reach 20 points first.
Emma Becker kept the front line alive with back-to-back kills. WT would go on to win the first set by five points.
The second set went back and forth with two ties on the score before the first ten points. The Lady Buffs suffered multiple missed serves while the Bulldogs offense lit up. The Lady Buffs reached 20 points first before the Bulldogs pulled back within one point.
Camy Jones and
Taytum Stow blocked an outside attack to gain a one point lead before WT finished off the set in extra points.
The third set saw the Bulldogs run away with the score and not allowing the Lady Buffs to tie or take the lead in the set. The defense for the Bulldogs forced an uncharacteristically amount of hitting errors from the Lady Buffs. Over the match the Lady Buffs had more hitting errors (27) than their opponent (24), making it a first time lead statistically this season for WT.
The fourth set saw the Lady Buffs grit as they stayed in the match point for point. A quick 1-3 lead for the Bulldogs didn't last long before the Lady Buffs had a
Brynne Wright kill on the outside and an ace from
Bryli Contreras. The Bulldogs were able to reach 20 points first as they went up by 6 before a Lady Buff timeout. Coach Potts called her second timeout at that time and the Lady Buffs came out with a Becker kill to put some momentum on their side. The Lady Buffs climbed to reach 21 points before the Bulldogs finished the set.
Bryli Contreras defense in the fifth and final set pulled the Lady Buffs up to have a 5 point lead at 7-2. The Bulldogs battled to come within one but the Lady Buffs continued to hold onto the lead before finishing the match.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sophomore
Emma Becker had a match high attempt with 50 sets and pulled out 23 kills and only four errors to hit .380.
Ainsley Malis led the offense with 35 assists and
Bryli Contreras held down the back row with 34 digs. Contreras had two aces for the maroon and white while
Carly Evetts had 5 blocks to lead the front line.
MILESTONES
- WT leads the series all-time against the Bulldogs (16-1)
- Emma Becker has a career high 50 hitting attempts while leading the Lady Buffs in kills (23)
- Emma Becker led WT in points with 24.5, a career high and Lady Buff team high this season
- Brynne Wright has a career high 47 hitting attempts
- Ainsley Malis has her third 30+ assists match in her career
COMING UP
The Lady Buffs will continue Lone Star Conference play this Friday, Oct. 20 against first place LSC contender University of Arkansas Fort Smith and then again on Saturday, Oct. 21 against Oklahoma Christian at home in The Box.
