Natchitoches, LA – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears returned to the Southland Conference Tournament Championship for the sixth time in nine seasons on Sunday as they faced the top-seeded Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks in a one vs. two-seed battle. The Sugar Bears could not defend the tournament title as the Ladyjacks swept them to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Samantha Anderson and Kellen Dunn led the Sugar Bears with 11 kills while Haley Tippett added 9.
 
The first set proved entertaining for the fans as there were six ties within the first 22 points and the biggest lead was four. Anderson's third kill of the set helped give the Sugar Bears separation as they held a 10-8 lead, but the Ladyjacks immediately responded with a 2-0 run to tie it back at 10-10. Both sides continued to trade the lead until the Lady Jacks broke a 21-21 tie and scored the last four to win set one 25-21. Central Arkansas struggled with attack errors in the first set as they finished with eight and recorded a .161 hitting percentage.
 
The Ladyjacks jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the second set and never looked back as they cruised to a 25-9 win. Stephen F. Austin dominated in the kills department as they recorded 14 in the second set to lead them to the 2-0 lead.
 
The Sugar Bears faced a similar situation in the third set as they fell behind 10-4, but their response was a more positive one as they went on a 9-3 run to tie it at 13-all. The big three of Tippet, Dunn and Anderson led the comeback as Tippett delivered three kills, Dunn added two and Anderson had one. Central Arkansas gained its first lead since the 2-0 start after an SFA attack error made it 18-17. They furthered their lead a few points later as back-to-back Ladyjack errors made it 20-18, but SFA responded with a kill and ace to even it at 20-all. After Anderson's 11^th kill made it 22-22, the Ladyjacks got a crucial kill from Makenzee Hanna and a Sugar Bear error to hold a 24-22 lead. An SFA service error gave Central Arkansas a chance down 24-23, but a kill from Anyia Williams completed the sweep as they won the third set 25-23.
 
Central Arkansas will return home with two of the six members of the Southland Conference All-Tournament Team as Anderson and Dunn were named members after the match. Anderson finished the tournament with set averages of 3.91 kills, 4.14 points and a hitting average of .320%, while Dunn finished with 3.64 kills, 1.09 digs and 3.82 points per set.
 
The Sugar Bears' postseason success got them over the 25-win mark for the sixth time in nine seasons.