CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas: The University of Central Arkansas volleyball program is set to continue their upset streak as they battle Sam Houston today at noon.
The Sugar Bears hope to extend their season even more as they face off against the Bearkats in the SLC Tournament Semi-Finals.
After a successful outing against Southeastern Louisiana, the Sugar Bears have their sights on Sam Houston. These two met earlier in the year as they faced each other to begin the SLC season. In that match, both teams fought valiantly, but ultimately UCA came out on top with a win in five sets. That loss was one of two for the Bearkats as they also lost to Stephen F. Austin in the latter part of the season. Regardless both teams have something to prove, making this a must-see showcase.
In these past couple of games, the Sugar Bears have stepped up majorly. Their offense has never been better, as they posted a .344 hitting percentage against Abilene Christian and .248 against Southeastern Louisiana. Leading that offensive charge has been freshman Charlie Tidwell. Tidwell currently leads the team in postseason kills as she has 27 in these past two games. An outside hitter would be nothing without their setters, and that is why another spotlight will be on senior Bailey Waddington. One of the biggest reasons all eyes will be on Waddington is because she is just four assists away from reaching 2,000 career assists. In UCA's history, only six other setters have achieved this prestigious mark, so to say it is an honor is an understatement.
Like it is said, "defense wins championships," and while the Sugar Bears are revving up their offensive numbers, their defense is staying as the lifeblood of the squad. At the helm of the defense is senior Emily Doss. While Doss didn't put up astronomical numbers against SLU, she made so many jaw-dropping plays that it is hard to say she isn't a massive part of the continued defensive surge. In the past two matches, UCA forced their opponents to hit .109 and .138. Those numbers will need to stay low as the Sugar Bears head into one of their toughest matches of the season.
The Bearkats this season have been the definition of a powerhouse from the offensive side. The squad is led by Southland Conference Player of the Year Ashley Lewis. Lewis led all hitters in kills per set with 4.34 as well as points per set with 4.95. When Sam Houston steps on the court, she will be the go-to option, and the Sugar Bears will need a way to contain her. With the Sugar Bears defense in full swing, this matchup will make for an excellent semi-final match.
UCA will begin this match against Sam Houston at noon today in Corpus Christi, Texas, as part of the SLC tournament semi-finals.
