Box Score

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Henderson State University volleyball team (1-4) won a five-set thriller against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2-4), 3-2, Friday evening at the Duke Wells Center.

In their first win of the 2013 season, the Lady Reddies utilized all five sets to power past the Aggies, 25-13, 20-25, 25-22, 25-27 and 15-11. Hitting at a .277, HSU totaled 57 kills to OPSU's 49. Henderson State also tallied 11 aces and 57 digs in the victory.

The Lady Reddies were without one of their top players, Jessica Moss, who was back in Garland, Texas to attend her grandmother's funeral. Prior to the start, the team dedicated the match to her.

Returning to the team, juniors Sarah Williams (Conroe, Texas) and Raegan Large (Montgomery, Texas) contributed a large part to HSU's victory. Williams was the match leader in kills with 19, while Large added double-digit digs with 11.

Junior transfer Taylor Thompson (Yuba City, Calif.) tallied 50 assists and served up five aces. Two other Lady Reddies amassed double-digit digs, as senior Cheyenne Derr (Mansfield, Ark.) and Lindsey Calabrese (San Jose, Calif.) added 13 and 15, respectively.

Junior transfer Cherise Austin (Palmdale, Calif.) and Katrina Goulbourne (Visalia, Calif.) also slammed down 10 and 18 kills, respectively, in the win.

HSU set the tone in the first set, dominating at the net with a .469 hitting percentage and winning 25-13.

The new additions, Williams and Large, started off the set with a kill and ace and set the standard for the match.

Oklahoma Panhandle tried to break the momentum with a timeout as HSU extended its lead by six at 16-10. Henderson State was unstoppable coming off the break and scored the next five points before the Aggies called another timeout as they trailed 20-11. The Lady Reddies then pushed the lead by double-digits and kept it, winning 25-13.

The second set was an offensive battle as OPSU hit .320 and HSU hit .308, but the Lady Reddies could not hold on and fell 25-20. Williams added five kills, while Goulbourne contributed four.

Mimicking the second set, both HSU and OPSU had a close battle in the third set and Henderson State came out on top 25-22.

HSU had a significant lead at 14-8 before the Aggies called a timeout. That break propelled Oklahoma Panhandle to score nine straight points and HSU even lost the lead at 17-14 before head coach Rhonda Thigpen called a timeout. Even at 20-20, Goulbourne slammed down two kills for the Lady Reddies to take another lead. OPSU scored the next point to pull within one but that was as close as they got, as HSU took the third set, 25-22.

The fourth set looked like it was in the hands of the Lady Reddies, but the Aggies fought strong coming all the way back after being down by as much as eight, winning the needed set to send it to five.

At match point in set four, OPSU got a kill by Brittany Dubberstein to cut HSU's lead 24-23. Another kill by Sarah Koster pulled it even at 24-24. After being tied again at 25, the Aggies earned an ace and kill to win the fourth set, 27-25.

Henderson State dominated the final set, winning 15-11. Large then stepped up by gathering the team and pumping them up after every point, to help ensure the victory. As Oklahoma Panhandle State crept back, Thigpen called a timeout with an 11-8 lead. Derr served up the ace on match point to give the Lady Reddies the crucial regional win.

HSU will return to the court tomorrow for their first road matches of the season as they will participate in the UAM Classic. Henderson State will first battle against the University of West Alabama at 11:30 a.m. and close out with a 2 p.m. match against Union.