KRISHNAN COLLINS | SPORTS EDITOR: Timber Terrell accounted for 15 kills in A-State’s 3-1 win over SFA.

The Arkansas State volleyball team opened the A-State Invitational with a 3-1 win in Santiago Restrepo’s first home game in charge. The Red Wolves handed Stephen F. Austin their first loss of the season as the Ladyjacks record dropped to 7-1.

The Red Wolves improved to 5-2 on the season with the win over the Ladyjacks as Macey Putt led A-State with 17 kills on the night.

Timber Terrell chipped in with 15 kills and Peyton Uhlenhake continued her stellar start to the season with 13. A-State out-hit the Ladyjacks as the Red Wolves boasted a .272 hitting percentage compared to the visitors’ .203 hitting percentage.

Fourth Set

The visitors looked as if though they were going to force a fifth set as the Ladyjacks started the set quickly. SFA held a 16-11 lead at one point in the fourth but Restrepo called his team to the bench with a timeout. The Red Wolves responded out of the break and battled back to bring the set to a 16-16 tie. The set went back and forth before A-State finished strong winning the fourth set 25-21.

Third Set

A-State earned a 2-1 set advantage over the Ladyjacks after a tightly contested third set. The Red Wolves came from behind multiple times and were even behind by four points early in the third. A-state had all the momentum and a 21-18 lead late in the set. SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys took her team into a timeout and the Ladyjacks stormed back within one at 21-20 after the break. Restrepo instantly called a timeout in an attempt to stop the SFA momentum. The decision paid off for A-State’s coach as the Red Wolves closed out the set 25-21 on an Malgorzata Andersohn ace.

Second Set

The second set never looked in doubt for the Red Wolves. A-State started with the lead and did not give it up despite a valiant effort from the visitors.  Kendahl Davenport gave the Red Wolves a 10-7 lead with an important block before the Ladyjacks clawed back within one point at 18-17. After another perfectly timed Restrepo timeout, A-State finished the set comfortably 25-21.

First Set

The Red Wolves lost a heartbreaking first set despite staying neck and neck with the Ladyjacks until the very end of the first game. A-State jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead before SFA battled back to make it 6-6. Uhlenhake looked up for the occasion from the start. The junior registered three kills in the first set including two early on to bring the set to an 8-8 tie. The visitors found their rhythm and with a 15-12 lead SFA forced the Red Wolves into a timeout. Restrepo’s team came out of the break firing and eventually took an 18-17 lead. The Ladyjacks took a timeout of their own setting the stage for a photo finish to the first set. A-State looked in total control after a smart kill by Terrell to make it 20-18 and the Red Wolves had set point at 24-23. However, A-State could not capitalize and fell to a resilient Ladyjacks team 27-25 in the first set.

A-State returns to action Friday night against the Rice Owls. The game is set to begin in the First National Bank Arena at 6:30 p.m.

Categories: Sports