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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – For the second time in three years, Henderson State opens GAC play with the Battle of the Ravine on Tuesday, Sept. 12, against cross-street rival Ouachita Baptist inside the Sturgis Physical Education Center.  
 
REDDIES REPORT
Henderson State went 4-0 in the Bettye Wallace Invitational during the weekend, with wins over West Alabama, Southwest Baptist, Western New Mexico and Lane College. The Reddies dropped just one set the entire tournament to SBU and were the only team to finish with an undefeated record.
 
HSU totaled 159 kills over the four matches on a .219 attack percentage, led by Violeta Mendoza Quintana with 24 kills in 10 sets. On defense, Trinity Sharp led the team and league over the weekend with 6.2 digs per set and a total of 62. Against Southwest Baptist, the junior from Springdale, Arkansas had 30 digs in four sets.
 
Fast starts have been the key to HSU's success in the first eight contests, as the team has won the opening set in seven of its eight matches. The Reddies are outscoring their opponents 201-to-143 in the first frame and have only given up ten or more kills just three times. During the Bettye Wallace Invitational, Henderson outscored its four opponents 103-to-58 in set one. 
 
Henderson State leads the all-time series against Ouachita Baptist 34-24 heading into Tuesday's contest. Last year, OUA had the upper hand, winning both matches by a score of 3-0 and snapping a three-match win streak by HSU. The Reddies and Tigers have split their last six matches inside the Sturgis Physical Education Center.
 
SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST
The Tigers are 2-6 through their first eight matches after taking part in the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational and Texas Woman's Invitational. OUA recorded one win in each tournament, beginning with a 3-2 victory over Colorado State-Pueblo, followed by a sweep of Illinois-Springfield. Last season, the Tigers finished fourth in the GAC with a 10-6 record and would make it to the semi-final of the GAC Tournament.
 
Leading the Ouachita Baptist attack is senior Kayla Steinmeyer, who has 63 kills through the first eight matches and is averaging 2.63 per set. The St. Charles, Missouri native had 45 kills during the Texas Women's Invitational, including three straight matches with 12 kills. As a team, OUA has recorded 328 kills on a .180 attack percentage.