Volleyball’s Season Concludes In The GCAC Quarterfinals

SHREVEPORT – BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Rust College volleyball program had a double-double recorded for the first time in over a month and was able to avoid the sweep, but the campaign came to an unfortunate end on Monday afternoon as #4 Philander Smith bounced the #5 Lady Bearcats in the conference quarterfinals, 3-1.

Head Coach Zuzana Armstrong matched the team's program record nine wins from a year ago while also shattering numerous season marks including most kills (887), service aces (204), assists (813), double-doubles (8), and digs (1,402) on its way to its highest standing in school history of fifth at 7-9.

The Basics:

• Score
  • #4 Philander Smith – 3
  • #5 Rust – 1
    • 25-27, 11-25, 25-21, 10-25

• Records
  • #5 Rust (9-24, 7-9 Gulf Coast)
  • #4 Philander Smith (13-15, 9-7 Gulf Coast)

• Location
  • Shreveport – Bossier City, Louisiana – Billy W. Montgomery Gymnasium

• Series History (Since 2021)
  • Philander Smith Leads 8-1 (88.9%)

• Winning Streak (Since 2021)
  • Philander Smith (W1) | Rust's Last Win: October 6, 2023 (Forfeit Win)

Rust Top Performers:

• Deja Campbell saved her best performance for last, recording her third double-double of the season and the seventh of her career, with a match-high 22 digs (5.50 p/s) and tied for team-most ten kills (2.50 p/s).

• Paige Eason was the kills co-leader at ten (2.50 p/s) as well, while setting a season-best regarding service aces with a game-high four (1.00 p/s) plus a season/Bearcat-best 14.5 points (3.63 p/s) along with seven digs (1.75 p/s).

• All-GCAC Honorable Mention Annie Narvaez averaged 3.50 digs per set (14 total) to cross double-figures for the 17th time in 31 matches played (54.8%).

• In conclusion, Saraih Taylor (15, 3.75 p/s) and Nyah Mason (10, 2.50 p/s) both went for double-digit assists on the afternoon, combining to setup 25 kills (6.25 p/s) as well as log 13 digs (3.25 p/s) between them.

Next:

• While the regular season has officially ended, optimism for 2024 is already running high for the Blue and White as the young club with no seniors is set to return most if not all the production from this 2023 squad.