The Henderson State volleyball team looks to continue its winning ways at home this weekend as it faces defending Great American Conference champion Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in Arkadelphia.
Series:
Henderson is 2-8 all-time against the Bulldogs, with SWOSU having won the last six meetings between the two schools. The Reddies have not beaten the Bulldogs since Sept. 2, 2005.
The Reddies are 1-4 all-time versus the Rangers and have lost the last three meetings. Henderson has not defeated NWOSU since Oct. 13, 2012.
Henderson State (11-10) Notes:
The Reddies enter the weekend riding a hot streak. They have won five of their last six conference games, including their last three in a row. Henderson is currently tied for second place in the GAC standings with Harding, SNU and Ouachita, and trails first place Arkansas Tech and Oklahoma Baptist by a single game with seven conference matches remaining in the regular season.
Reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Sharon Tukuaoga was unstoppable for the Reddies in two wins last weekend. She totaled 45 kills in the two matches while carrying a .472 hitting percentage. Tukuaoga is second in the GAC in kills per set (3.88), total kills (310), points per set (4.34) and total points (347.5).
Defensively the Reddies have been led by freshman middle blocker
Adrianna Hartmann, who is third in the GAC in blocks per set (0.95) and total blocks (72); as well as junior libero
Sydney Skelton, whose 408 digs is second in the conference, while her average of 5.04 digs per set is good for fifth in the GAC.
Henderson has found a prolific setting duo this season, as freshmen
Sariah Boney and
Haley Higgins continue to rack up assists. Boney ranks 10th in the GAC in assists per set (7.66) and has 582 total on the year, while Higgins has tallied 313 for an average of 5.91 per set.
Southwestern Oklahoma State (8-13) Notes:
The Bulldogs are the reigning GAC Champions after winning the league tournament title in 2015. They are 5-4 in conference play in 2016 and have won their last three conference matches, which includes a win over first place Arkansas Tech last week.
SWOSU is led by one of the most dangerous offensive players in the GAC, senior Carly Zak, who leads the conference in kills per set (4.26), total kills (345), points per set (4.83) and total points (391). She is also fourth in the GAC in service aces with 28 on the year.
Senior setter Kayla Hebert leads the Bulldogs in assists with 679 on the season and ranks eighth in the GAC with 8.49 assists per set.
As a team SWOSU is sixth in the league in hitting percentage (.181) but last in opponent hitting percentage (.233).
Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-21) Notes:
The Rangers are currently last in the GAC standings at 1-8 on the year and have lost their last seven conference games.
NWOSU has four players with over 100 kills on the year and are led by senior Natalie Fahey, who has 162 total kills and averages 2.22 kills per set. Fahey is also second in the GAC in service aces with 32 on the season.
Defensively junior libero Carley Geer leads the team with 302 digs and is ninth in the GAC with an average of 4.19 digs per set.
As a team NWOSU is second in the GAC in service aces with 121 on the year, but is last in assists per set (9.97) and kills per set (10.67).
