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LOVB Austin? Straight up clutch. Down 14-12 in the fifth set against LOVB Omaha, they pulled off a comeback that felt like a movie script. Khat Bell and Chiaka Ogbogu were the stars of this show.
BELL AND OGBOGU TAKE CHARGE
Bell was on a mission. She came into the match with just 12 kills this season but left with 17, including seven in the fifth set alone. That’s what you call rising to the occasion. Her .306 hitting percentage wasn't too shabby either. Ogbogu? She was a wall. 14 kills, a .524 hitting percentage, and a match-high nine blocks. Omaha had no answer.
AUSTIN'S TEAM EFFORT
Logan Eggleston chipped in 16 kills and a .333 hitting clip, while Carli Lloyd dished out a season-best 53 assists. This wasn't just a two-woman show. It was all hands on deck. Zoe Jarvis dug up 15 balls to keep the defense steady.
Austin out-blocked Omaha 20 to 11. When you control the net like that, you're hard to beat. And let's be real, Omaha felt it. Jordan Larson gave Omaha a match point with a slick left-handed poke, but Austin was relentless. Ogbogu tied it with a kill, and then she teamed with Eggleston for a block party to end it.
OMAHA'S TOUGH NIGHT
Omaha’s Emily Thater had a strong performance with 14 kills, hitting .522. But it wasn't enough to stop the bleeding. They've now lost eight straight. Sami Francis, fresh from Stanford, made her pro debut with eight kills and six blocks. A bright spot in a tough loss.
Austin Coach Chris McGown summed it up perfectly: "Those are the kind of matches you live for as a player." Omaha coach Suzie Fritz knows they need to tighten up. "Against a team as physical as Austin, we have to take care of the ball," she said.
Austin's victory pulls them closer to third place in the standings. This team is heating up. Watch out for Austin in the playoff race.
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Source: LOVB
