8:21 Lamar implodes in Set 4 as UCA runs away with Set 4 in a 25-11 easy win. So, all seeds hold to form and advance to the 2nd round tomorrow. A very poor serving game on both sides in this match, but Lamar's 15 service errors just proved to be their doom. UCA will meet #1 Texas State in the late game.. Lamar has to be disappointed with that result given that they probably thought that they should have been up 2-0 at the break.. However, after UCA won the momentum back at the end of Set 3.. that was all she wrote because UCA absolutely cruises in Set 4 in one of the more lopsided sets you'll see.. check back here tomorrow afternoon as we continue with coverage of Day 2 from Conway.
7:59 PM UCA takes the lead 2-1 after a very strong set from Sugar Bear RS Jessica Nagy.. Lamar couldn't find an answer for her and the 3rd set swings UCA's way. Now, for Lamar to get their anticipated chance of knocking off Texas State again, they are going to have to win this in five. The home crowd really got into that set and once the Bears took the lead at about 17's, the crowd continued to feed off every point.. Earlier in the match the crowd really hadn't been a factor. Krell still the offensive formula for the Cardinals as she leads all with 14 kills. But Nagy is hitting 12-2-30 (.333) for UCA. Amazingly, UCA leads despite making 11 total service errors andgetting no aces. The reason? Lamar has been worse at the service line.. committing a crazy 13 serving errors.. four each for Whittaker and McStravick. The momentum has definitely swung the host's way going into Set 4.
7:27 PM: After getting beat down in Set 1, host UCA makes a nifty comeback from five points down late in the 2nd set to force extra points and then put Lamar away 26-24. So, the last game of Day 1 goes to intermission tied 1-1. All sorts of serving problems in this one.. Lamar with five aces, but also committing six service errors, but UCA has 8 service errors without getting an ace. Lamar getting basically nothing from their outsides.. Krell in the middle.. running a ton of slides has 9 kills, but otherwise McCollum and McStravick - whose had serving problems in this one - only have 7 kills between them. UCA is led at the half by Freshman Alicia Dittrich with 7 kills. Lamar finds themselves tied despite hitting .302 in the match compared to only .188 for UCA. The Cardinals have to feel as though they should be up 2-0, but instead we will play a best of three to see who gets to dance with Texas State in the night match on Day 2.
6:05 PM Texas State gets the win over NSU 3-1, but honestly.. that was unimpressive. Texas State really didn't look "into" the match at all. The only regular that impressed me in that match was Hilbun. But, that's the nature of #1 vs #8.. you don't have to play your best to win. Texas State can hit the reset button tonite and come out firing tomorrow. I wouldn't bet against that happening.. and I've got to think the winner of the last match here tonite will expend more energy. When Texas State is on.. they are really on. And I bet they find their gear before this is all said and done...All in all Northwestern State represented themselves well in that match. DiFrancesco swung 65 times in four sets, but hit just .062 as NSU hit .101 for the match. Texas State righted the ship on attacking in the 4th getting to .364 and raising their match percentage to .207. Still, I can't think Bobcat faithful came away impressed. I know I wasn't.
5:44 PM: Texas State plays complacently and gets burned in Set 3 by Northwestern State. In that set, the Bobcats looked as if they were just sitting back on their heals. No sense of urgency at all by Texas State. Deardorff, who is not playing well, was kept on the bench until 17-17 and then inserted to give the Bobcats a spark. It didn't work. Either Texas State just thought they could play subs and get away with it, Deardorff is slightly hurting or Texas State just played one of the worst sets I've ever seen them play. Pick one or all, but the fact is that Northwestern State just won Set 3 and cut the lead to 2-1. Texas State hits .027 in Set 2 and .119 in Set 3 after hitting .342 in Set 1. Its as it they thought it was a best of one set match. Let's see if that loss gets the Bobcats fired up, because that effort ain't gonna get it done tomorrow or in the championship if they make it. Gotta feel proud for NSU there.
5:05 PM: As might be expected, Northwestern State struggling to produce a lot of offense against the bigger and stronger Texas State. Texas State goes into intermission with a 2-0 lead, NSU managing only 14 points in the first set. Texas State really not stressed at any point in the first half.. getting tons of touches on NSU attacks.. cruising to what will probably be a 2nd round match up with either Lamar or host Central Arkansas.
