ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State heads to Monticello to start off the weak, facing the Blossoms of University of Arkansas-Monticello on November 11th at 6:00 PM in the Steelman Fieldhouse. The Reddies then return home to host Ouachita Baptist November 13th at 6:30 PM in the Duke Wells Center for the second Battle of the Ravine.
Henderson State are coming off a 0-2 week, losing on the road at Southern Arkansas 3-1, before dropping to Harding 3-0 at home.
On the offensive side,
Katilyn Steffes continues to lead the Reddies, as she currently holds 437 kills on the season, ranking third in the nation, and leading the GAC.
Kelis Battles ranks second on the team and in the GAC with 293 kills. At the line,
Berkeley Berry leads the team with 37 service aces.
The Reddie offense is orchestrated by
Tyhia Mack, who leads the team in assists (515), averaging 5.20 assists per set.
Braxton Jones is currently getting significant time, as she's collected 171 assists averaging 5.18 assists per set.
Kaylon Partain continues to lead the team defensively, as Partain ranks second in the nation and the GAC this season in total digs (620), while also second in the GAC in digs per set (5.90). Steffes and Berry rank behind Partain on the team, collecting 343 and 235 digs respectively.
The net is where the Reddies have significant strength, as they rank eight in the nation and second in the GAC in total blocks (228.5), and third in blocks per set (2.20). Junior
Cassidi Campbell is second in the GAC and leads the team individually, with 110 total blocks and ranks fourth in the GAC in blocks per set (1.12), while Steffes ranks second on the team in blocks (53.0), and
Rylee Smith third (41.0).
Scouting Arkansas-Monticello (3-22, 0-14)
The Blossoms are coming off a 0-2 week as well, losing at home 3-0 to Arkansas Tech, and then at Ouachita Baptist 3-0.
The Blossoms offensively are led by Sophia Grubbs who leads the team in kills (137) and kills per set (2.58), Jalen Scroggins ranks second with 108 kills. Mia Smalls orchestrates the offense, as she leads the team in assists (357) and assists per set (5.10).
On the defensive side, Jordan Wehr leads the team in digs (296) and digs per set (4.35), while Smalls ranks second in total digs (223) and digs per set (3.19). At the net, Scroggins leads the team with 31 blocks, averaging 0.46 blocks per set.
The Reddies swept the Blossoms in their last meeting, winning 3-0 at home. When playing at the Steelman Fieldhouse, HSU is 13-7 against UAM, and is 26-14 all-time.
Scouting Ouachita Baptist (23-4, 13-1)
Ouachita is coming off a 1-1 week, as they lost to Harding on the road (3-2) and defeated Arkansas-Monticello at home (3-0).
Ouachita carries a balanced offensive attack, with four different players all holding 200+ kills on the season. Kailey Thedford leads the Tigers in kills (281) and kills per set (3.02), while Riley Braziel and Emily Adams follow with 239 kills and 238 kills respectively. Courtney Hanson leads the offense, as she ranks first in the GAC with 935 assists, and service aces (45).
On the defensive side, the Tigers are led by Kylie Kisgen who ranks third in the GAC in digs (552) and digs per set (5.75). At the net, Leah Gardner leads the Tigers in total blocks with 97.0 and blocks per set (1.03).
The Reddies lost the last time they met the Tigers, dropping the match 3-1 at Ouachita. When playing at home in the Duke Wells Center, HSU is 27-11 against OBU, and is 37-24 all-time.
