Oct. 19, 2006
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Teena Sobczak collected a game-high 16 kills and Torie Dacus added 14 kills as the UT Arlington volleyball team completed its seventh sweep of the season by handing Northwestern State a 30-27, 30-24, 30-26 defeat Thursday evening at the Prather Coliseum. The victory put an end to personal two-game losing streak to NSU and improved UTA's record to 39-2 all-time against the Demons.
"It was good to see them get out to a good start," said head coach Diane Seymour. "I told them in a late timeout that we are not used to being in this situation, being up 2-0, so we kind of put it in cruise control. Fortunately, we are used to being able to play with our backs against the wall. As we get into the 20's, we are still down, but start to pick up our play because we are used to being down. That is probably a good thing for us to have been in extended matches and be able to come back like that and get a sweep."
The two teams started the match by alternating the first 13 points before UTA got two straight kills from Dacus and Emily Nedderman, along with a Demons hitting error and a second Nedderman kill to open a 10-7 advantage.
NSU (8-11, 3-6 SLC) did not allow the Mavs to pull away and pulled back even at 20-20. Sobczak would give UTA the lead for good and team up with Gina Kalb one-point later for the two-point advantage. After the Demons would pull within one, Dacus would deliver a kill and follow it up with a service ace to force a NSU timeout.
The Mavs greeted the Demons rudely out of the break as Dani Johnson and Ellen Murray combined on a block. Johnson would set up game-point with a kill and Sobczak would end things with her eighth kill of the game.
The Mavs (18-6, 7-1 SLC) were back to their usual selves in the second game as they raced out to a 12-4 lead. NSU would get as close as four points, but no closer as Sobczak would get back to the front row and put away three more balls for a 21-12 advantage. NSU would battle to get within five points before Michelle Schwartz would end the game with a kill.
The Demons would not go quietly into the night as they matched the Mavs point-for-point the majority of the third game and found themselves ahead 22-19. A pair of Demons hitting errors and kills from Dacus and Johnson would tie the score. A stuff block from Sobczak and Murray would start a 4-1 run would set the Mavs up for victory. Schwartz would set up match point with a perfectly placed attack and Sobczak would send the Mavs victory.
Ashley Smith led the defensive effort with 22 digs and was joined in double figures by Sobczak with 15 and Dacus 14. Nedderman turned in another solid performance with eight kills, 45 assists and five digs.
The Mavs return to action Saturday afternoon as they take on conference newcomer Central Arkansas. First serve is set for 2 p.m. in Conway, Ark.
