ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Henderson State continues GAC play this week, with the first match coming on Tuesday, September 22nd. The Reddies will head to Monticello to face the UAM Cotton Blossoms in the Steelman Fieldhouse at 6:00 P.M. On Thursday, September 24th, Henderson State will then host Ouachita Baptist in their home Battle of the Ravine match. That match is scheduled for 6:30 P.M in the Duke Wells Center.
Reddie Report
The Reddies (8-7, 2-1) are coming off a 2-0 week in GAC play. They first traveled to Magnolia, Arkansas where they defeated Southern Arkansas 3-0. Henderson then hosted the first place Bisons of Harding, where they won in thrilling fashion, 3-2.
The Reddie offense last week was led by
Kelis Battles, who led the team with 31 total kills on the week, recording an attack percentage of .235. Following Battles has been
Karsen Hart, who collected 20 total kills, on an incredible .436 attack percentage. Facilitating the offense this week has been
Tyhia Mack, who leads the team in total assists, and collected 44 assists this week, averaging 5.5 assists per set.
Alyssa Lindeman has been the secondary option for the Reddies, as she ranks behind Mack with 24 assists averaging 3.0 assists per set.
The defense for the Reddies was elite this week, led by
Kaylon Partain, who leads the GAC and the Nation in total digs (385), while leading Henderson this week with 64 total digs, averaging an elite 8.00 digs per set. Battles and
Berkeley Berry assist Partain in helping lead Division II volleyball in total digs (1259). Battles collected 39 digs this week, while Berry recorded 30. At the net, the Reddies are just as dominant, as they currently lead the nation in solo blocks (75) while tying with Pittsburg State in team blocks (140.0). Cassid Campbell is the leader for Henderson State, as she ranks third in the nation in total blocks (63.0) while ranking first in solo blocks (27).
Karsen Hart ranks right behind Campbell in the nation, ranking second with 18 solo blocks. On the week, Campbell collected 17 total blocks, including six solo blocks, while Hart had six total blocks and two solo.
Scouting Arkansas-Monticello
The UAM Cotton Blossoms (2-13, 0-3) went 0-2 this last week in GAC play, falling to Ouachita Baptist 3-0 on Tuesday, and then losing to Arkansas Tech 3-0 on Friday.
The Blossoms offense struggles, as they have the lowest hitting percentage in the GAC (.081), and the fewest kills (410) in the conference. Sophia Grubbs leads UAM in kills this season with 137, averaging 2.85 kills per set. Isabella Garcia follows Grubbs with 113 kills, averaging 2.35 kills per set. Ella Cline leads the Blossoms in assists, having recorded 171 so far this season, averaging 3.89 assists per set.
On defense, UAM is allowing the highest hitting percentage for opponents in the conference (.256), while ranking sixth in kills by opponents (649). Garcia leads the Blossoms with 154 digs, while Allyson Rosa follows right behind with 150 digs on the season so far. At the net, the Blossoms trails the conference in blocks, ranking dead-last. Kylie Miller leads the Blossoms with 23 blocks on the season, with Summer Stephens ranking second with 16.
The Reddies last faced UAM on the road in Monticello, where they defeated the Blossoms 3-2. When playing UAM in the Steelman Fieldhouse, Henderson State is 14-7, holding a 27-14 record all-time.
Scouting Ouachita Baptist
Ouachita Baptist (6-9, 2-1) went 1-1 last week in GAC play. They fell to Harding in three sets on Tuesday, before besting UAM on Thursday 3-0.
The Tiger offense has not been as prolific as it has been the last few years, as the Tigers rank 10th in the GAC in kills (602) and eighth in hitting percentage (.172). Leading individually for Ouachita Baptist is Sophie Henry, who has 124 digs on the season so far. Kailey Thedford sits right behind her with 113 kills. Mack Bidwell is the main distributor for the Tigers, ranking sixth in the GAC with 454 assists, averaging 8.73 assists per set.
On the defensive side, the Tigers ar holding opponents to the third-fewest kills in the GAC (646), but the fourth-highest hitting percentage (.206). Kylie Kisgen leads Ouachita Baptist in digs with 228, averaging 4.38 digs per set, while Bidwell ranks second with 113. At the net however, Ouachita Baptist struggles to defend, as the Tigers have the second-lowest team blocks in the GAC (74.0), while averaging 1.42 blocks per set. Individually, Henry leads with 41.0 blocks, averaging 0.84 blocks per set and Leah Gardner ranks second with 26 blocks.
The Reddies fell to the Tigers 3-0 the last time they played in the Duke Wells Center. When facing Ouachita Baptist in the Duke Wells Center, Henderson State is 27-12, and hold a 37-25 record all-time.
