O'Banion eclipses 1,000 career kills; Lady Muleriders edged by Ouachita in four sets

 

November 9, 2017



ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Senior opposite hitter Alli O'Banion produced 17 kills at a .361 attack percentage on Tuesday evening and in the process became just the fifth Lady Mulerider in the Rally Scoring Era (RSE) to eclipse 1,000 career kills, while Southern Arkansas was edged in four sets by Ouachita in Great American Conference action inside the Sturgis Physical Education Center in Arkadelphia.

O'Banion became just the second SAU player since 2000 to cap her career with 1,000 kills and 300 total blocks joining Maggie Ross who did it from 2006 to 2010. Earlier this season, the Dos Palos, California, native became just the third Lady Mulerider in the RSE to register 300 or more career blocks and is the program's RSE career leader in block assists with 271.

Ouachita carried the night's momentum through the opening two sets after winning by scores of 25-18 and 25-23. Set two saw SAU jump out to a 17-11 lead before the Lady Tigers produced an 8-2 run to tie the set at 19 and eventually take a two-set lead. In the third frame, Southern Arkansas claimed a 25-22 set win as the Lady Muleriders held Ouachita to just ten kills and a .103 attack clip.

Tuesday night's fourth set was worthy enough to force a fifth set, but the Lady Tigers would prevail despite Southern Arkansas holding set point four times in the frame before Ouachita rallied off the match's final three points for the win. SAU showed grit in the final set as they assembled a 3-0 run while facing match point to force the extra play late.

The Lady Muleriders topped Ouachita in kills (52-50), assists (48-47) and digs (73-54), while both teams recorded eight total blocks and six service aces.

Alexia Southern added a dozen kills and finished with 13 digs in her ninth double-double performance of the season. Seven Powers followed with nine kills. Alexa Bass produced 26 assists with Savannah Pillow adding 19. Whitney Brown led all players with 20 digs and Bass' ten digs gave the sophomore her thirteenth double-double effort of her career. Brown and Pillow each logged a pair of service aces.

Bailey Cagle was again efficient as she hit .600 in limited attacks picking up six kills, while adding three block assist to push her team-leading total to 91.0. O'Banion also added three block assists and Lauren Smith led the team with four block assists.

For O'Banion, eight kills this coming Thursday night would move her into third-place all-time in the RSE in program history as she has 1,005 career kills: currently the fifth-most in that time span.

Southern Arkansas returns to the W.T. Watson Center for the final time in 2017 as they welcome in Henderson State for the season finale. The Lady Mulerider program will honor its three seniors; Alli O'Banion, Savannah Pillow, and Alexia Southern, before Thursday's contest. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

 

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