SHREVEPORT - Centenary's lone senior Jesi Wilcox suits up at the Gold Dome for the last time Thursday as the Ladies host Southern Arkansas and Millsaps College in the fourth and final tri-match of the season.
The Ladies (1-20) hope to send Wilcox out with a win on Senior Night, as she will be recognized for her contributions to the Centenary volleyball program. Southern Arkansas (16-4) and Millsaps (17-4) kick off the tri-match at 4 p.m., followed by the Ladies and Millsaps at 6. Centenary and SAU wrap up play at 8 p.m.
"Jesi's been the epitome of a senior leader," head coach Jon Stenman said. "Jesi was put into a very tough situation coming into the season. Being one of only two upperclassmen and the only senior, the onus was on her to rise above all of the drama and growing pains we were going through. Jesi has really come through with that this season. Not only has she been the libero for us in every match and led us in digs in three-fourths of the matches, she's been an emotionally strong person. She has really kept herself in a positive mind state and she hasn't let things get to her."
After snapping their 20-match losing streak, 19 to begin this season, the Ladies know how to close a match and win the crucial points at key times.
"The simplest thing that comes to mind is they know how to win now," Stenman said. We got the important points when they mattered. That's why we played UT Tyler much closer. Unfortunately we didn't get all of the points that mattered, but we lost by a combined 10 points. Last time, we only scored 30 in three sets combined."
Centenary will have its hands full with two squads combining for a 12-match winning streak, seven for Millsaps and five for Southern Ark.
"We saw great improvement in the last tri-match," Stenman said. "Sometimes all it takes is a little success to breed success. Hopefully we can use that momentum. The performance was night and day from the second tri-match we had."
