Nov. 18, 2006
Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - UT Arlington got 18 kills and 11 digs from Teena Sobczak and 16 kills and 16 digs from Dani Johnson as the Mavs advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament championship match with a 30-26, 31-29, 30-27 victory over McNeese State Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
After getting off to a sluggish start, UTA used a 5-0 run to open a 17-14 advantage. The Cowgirls quickly responded with a run of their own to tie the score 22-22. A MSU error and back-to-back kills from Johnson and Ellen Murray staked the Mavs to a lead they would not relinquish. Gina Kalb would end the game with her second kill.
The Mavs (25-9 )jumped out to the early advantage in the second game, but the Cowgirls had some fight inside as they seized control of the game and held a 20-16 advantage on a Marquita Williams kill. A pair of Sobczak kills and a Murray ace tied the score 21-21.
MSU (15-14) battled back and looked to have the game in hand at 28-26. After a Maverick timeout, Torie Dacus from the team within one and Murray and Emily Nedderman combined on a block to tie the game. MSU had game point following a Williams kill before Johnson tied the game and Sobczak ended it with two straight swings.
UTA stormed out in the third game and quickly found themselves comfortable in front 20-11. Williams led a feverish Cowgirl charge as she would record seven kills and pull her team to within 29-26. After another Cowgirl kill, Sobczak ended the match the same way she ended the second game with her 18th kill of the match.
The record books continue to change at UTA as Ashley Smith recorded 26 digs and passed Amber Pack to become the school's all-time leader in career digs. Smith now has 1,898 career digs, breaking Pack's record of 1,887. As a team, the Mavs ran their NCAA best total for digs up to 2,801.
UTA now advances to the SLC Tournament finals where it will take on the winner of the Texas State- Stephen F. Austin match. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
