SE Athletics
Matt Thomas
SHAWNEE – Southeastern Oklahoma State captures its first win over Oklahoma Baptist since 2016 with a 3-2 win in a five-set thriller to improve to 4-4 on the year and start conference play 1-0.
Sports presented by Indian Nation Wholesale.
“What an amazing opportunity for us to capitalize and get a win for our first conference match. This is the first time since 2016 that SE has come out with a win against them and I am just so proud of the work and dedication that this program has put in to earn this win,” said head coach Nicole Solum-Mitchell. “This was a full team win, both sides of the ball. We felt very prepared with the work coach Carmen Kinsey put in on film to get us ready to compete today.”
“Defensively, we were steady, with Patience Lewis leading the backcourt. We are ready to take on the next match,” said coach Solum-Mitchell.
Ruthie Forson recorded her second triple-double of the year with 39 assists, 20 digs and 13 kills. The Denton, Texas native also had a hand in 2.0 total blocks and a service ace. D’Nari Mills registered her fifth double-double of the year with a season-high 21 kills and 12 digs. Michera Moffett, Noelia Rocha and Faith Kruebbe finished with eight kills each, while Moffett hit a blistering .421 from her middle blocker position.
Patience Lewis had a career night, recording a team-high 42 digs, which is the second most recorded in a match by an SE player. Andrea Urzua notched 16 digs, while Maci Morrison and Moffett each had 4.0 total blocks.
SET ONE
Southeastern and Oklahoma Baptist were back and forth through the first nine points, and the two sides would be deadlocked at 7-all after a bad set by the Bison. OBU was the first to break the tie on a 4-0 burst and later added to its lead on a 4-1 run to force an SE timeout up 15-9. The Storm recorded two quick points out of the break, but the Bison began to pull away, taking the first set 25-15.
SET TWO
Southeastern jumped out to a 4-1 lead after kills by Mills and Kruebbe, and another pair of kills by Forson and Moffett kept the Storm in front 8-4. SE did not allow the Bison to close the gap with another two points from Forson in a 3-0 run to give the Storm a 12-6 advantage and force an OBU timeout.
Back-to-back kills by Mills kept the blue-and-gold ahead, but the Bison charged back to cut SE’s lead to four, 20-16. A 3-0 run by Oklahoma Baptist made it a one-point set, but SE closed the door on the late rally with a 5-2 run to claim a 25-21 set victory.
SET THREE
Oklahoma Baptist led early, 9-2, and the Storm would be forced to use a timeout. Out of the break, SE quickly found its footing and stormed back on a 5-0 run to cut the Bison’s advantage to 9-6. OBU held its slim edge through the next exchanges, with SE staying within striking distance, down three, 16-13.
Southeastern trimmed the deficit down to one on a 3-0 burst, featuring kills by Kruebbe, Mills and Moffet, as OBU used a timeout up 20-19. SE tied the set 20-all on the first rally out of the break, and two kills by Moffett and Mills each helped secure the final four points of the frame to give SE a 25-20 set win.
SET FOUR
The Savage Storm charged out to a 6-3 lead and would hold a three-point margin over the Bison at 12-9 at the first break, as OBU used a timeout. The Bison rattled off four straight points to take the lead 13-12, and the Storm would then use a timeout of their own. SE regained the lead again on a 4-1 burst featuring three kills by Forson, and the Storm would add another two points after an OBU timeout to lead 21-17.
The Bison came roaring back after the break on a 6-0 run to go back ahead 23-21. SE cut it to a one-point lead down 24-23, but Oklahoma Baptist would find the final point to win 25-23 and force a fifth set.
SET FIVE
Southeastern and Oklahoma Baptist traded blows to start the final frame, as SE jumped out to a 5-1 lead before OBU tied it 5-all. After being tied at 6-6 and 7-7, the Storm found a breakthrough on a 3-0 burst to lead 10-8, and the Bison would use a timeout. The two sides traded the next seven points, and the Storm continued to hold its lead, not allowing Oklahoma Baptist to close the gap.
Mills gave the Storm match point moments later after slamming down a kill and would have a hand in the match-clinching point with Forson on a block to win the match 3-2 after taking the final set 15-13.
Southeastern (4-4, 1-0) now heads to the MIAA/GAC Crossover in Edmond, Okla., where the Storm will face Arkansas-Fort Smith and No. 15 Central Oklahoma across two days.