Box Score



CONWAY, Ark. – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team forced preseason Southland Conference favorite Central Arkansas to five sets Saturday before falling, 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 16-25, 8-15.

Senior Courtney Donald tallied a career-high nine blocks, but it wasn't enough for the Lady Lions (5-7, 1-3 Southland). Donald led Southeastern with 17 kills while recording a  .469 attack percentage.

Veronica Turk contributed 11 kills and the Lady Lions out-hit Central Arkansas .269 to .253 in the match.

Central Arkansas (14-1, 3-1 Southland) took the initial lead in the first set and never relinquished it, leading by as much as six points.

Southeastern responded with five blocks and a strong defensive effort in the second set. With the score tied 10 different times and two lead changes, a Cherish Krohn service ace put the Lady Lions back on top for good in the set.

With just a single attack error in the third set, Southeastern dominated offensively, hitting  at a .542 clip. Donald recorded eight of her kills and three blocks in the set.

Central Arkansas regained their offensive stroke (.406 attack percentage) in the fourth  and carried the momentum into the fifth and deciding set.

Five Sugar Bears recorded double-digit kills, led by Jessica Hays. The reigning Southland Offensive player of the Week recorded 22, but hit just .182 for the match. Marissa Collins dished out 58 assists and Shelbee Berringer recorded 22 digs for Central Arkansas.

Senior Becky Bekelja handed out 36 assists for the Lady Lions. Libero Megan McMillin posted 19 digs while Cherish Krohn and Morgan Todd contributed 10 and nine digs, respectively.

Southeastern returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m. in the University Center in a Southland Conference matchup against Sam Houston State.


Central Arkansas def. Southeastern La. 25-20,21-25,17-25,25-16,15-8
Southeastern La. (5-7, 1-3 SLC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Donald, Courtney 17-0-9; Turk, Veronica 11-1-1; Grayson, Tamra 9-0-1; Bekelja, Becky 7-0-3; Devlin, Shelby 2-0-3; Young, Lindsey 2-0-6; Krohn, Cherish 0-1-0; Totals 48-2-12.0. (Assists) - Bekelja, Becky 36. (Dig leaders) - McMillin, Megan 19; Krohn, Cherish 10; Todd, Morgan 9

Central Arkansas (14-1, 3-1 SLC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hays, Jessica 22-1-0; Hammonds, Taylor 13-0-2; Schnars, Heather 11-4-1; Hartman, Kyle 11-0-0; Dittrich, Alicia 10-1-1; Collins, Marissa 2-5-0; Okeke, Nicole 1-0-0; Hunt, Corri 0-1-0; Berringer, Shelbee 0-2-0; Totals 70-14-3.0. (Assists) - Collins, Marissa 58. (Dig leaders) – Berringer, Shelbee 22; Collins, Marissa 12; Hays, Jessica 10; Schnars, Heather 8