The Lady Lions will need to win at UNO to have a chance of making the Southland Conference Tournament. Last season, the Lady Lions were the eighth seed in the tournament and lost in the first round to number one seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Jonathan Rhodes/The Lion's Roar
The Lady Lions volleyball team is now one loss away from exiting the Southland Conference Tournament after losing to Central Arkansas 3-1. There are only three games left for the Lady Lions to make their bid for the tournament.
“It’s been a tough season for a lot of different reasons,” said Head Coach Jim Smoot. “Injuries and a really tough schedule, but we battled. We’ve had so many five game matches this year, and I thought we battled well tonight. They are a very physical team that gives us problems.”
Seniors outside hitter Parrie Hartley, middle blocker and outside hitter Landry Bullock, middle blocker Rachael Bunn and outside hitter Madi Odom played their last home game.
“I felt confident,” said Hartley. “I wasn’t really scared. I just wanted to give everything that I had because it was the last time I was playing here. Being a senior and being a captain, I wanted to give it all I had.”
Bullock did not get too much playing time in her last home game due to a knee injury she has been battling all season long.
“It was kind of sad that Landry couldn’t play,” said Smoot. “She tweaked her knee yesterday. She’s been playing really well, so I let Landry get in for just that last serve even though she was hobbling.”
Hartley finished the game with 19 kills, one shy of her career high. Freshman setter Elyssa Purcell had a double-double with 22 assists and 14 digs. Sophomore libero Monica Ramon led the team with 23 digs.
“I think we played pretty well at some points tonight,” said Hartley. “They are a very strong team. I know it didn’t come out the way we wanted, but I thought we played well for the majority of the game.”
The eighth seed in the SLC Tournament is still within reach for the Lady Lions as they play their last game against University of New Orleans on Saturday, Nov. 12. Smoot likes the future of the program with the younger players, but has not given up on this season.
“We got some good recruits coming in, so we are really excited about the future, but we are not giving up on this,” said Smoot. “We still have a chance to make the tournament. Got a tough road trip this weekend, and we play UNO in our last match. So, if we win a couple of those we still have a good chance of getting in.”
The players are also enthusiastic about making the tournament.
“I want to make the tournament,” said Hartley. “It’s my last year and I want to go all out.”
The Lady Lions volleyball team lost their match last Thursday at Sam Houston State 3-1 and their match last Saturday at Stephen F. Austin 3-0. In the first game, Purcell earned her eighth triple double with 11 kills, nine assists and 12 digs. Holden also contributed 11 kills.
In the second game, Hartley led the team with five kills and Bunn reached 308 total blocks, putting her one block away from tying for third all-time. Odom, Ramon and Baker had double digit digs. For Baker, it was her seventh double-double of the season.