Mott jumps into rare air, earns 2 ‘firsts’ for Southwestern Oklahoma State volleyball

By Travis M. Smith | Ellis County Sports

WEATHERFORD, OK — Lacy Mott isn’t exactly an “imposing” figure when she steps onto the court for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University volleyball program. At 5-foot-6, the senior from Waxahachie is likely thought by the opposition across the net to be a libero or even a setter.

Both are noble positions. Mott, however, is an outside hitter who can elevate and swing with power amongst the tallest of trees — and she’s proven to be one of the best to ever do it for the Bulldogs or in the Great American Conference.

The conference announced Monday that Mott had garnered her 6th GAC Player of the Week award in her career (5 offensive, 1 defensive). One day later, Mott became the first player in SWOSU history to be named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Player of the Week.

The (19-7, 14-1) Bulldogs secured their first-ever GAC regular-season championship just a few hours later.

En route to her double-award week, Mott recorded a career-high 30 kills against Oklahoma Baptist and 20 more against East Central. The performance against OBU included an 18-dig double-double, while the attack on the ECU Tigers pushed Mott across the 1,500-kill milestone and into second all-time in SWOSU program history. She hit .398 on the week with just 9 errors on 103 total swings.

Mott added 13 kills in the conference title clincher on her and the Bulldogs’ senior night Tuesday, bringing her career kills total to 1,515.

Carly Zak currently holds the program’s all-time lead in the kills department with 1,622. And, barring quite the miracle and stat-defying run through the GAC Tournament plus the NCAA DII Tournament, Zak’s record is very likely safe, though that margin will no doubt tighten.

Zak, a 6-footer from Wylie, TX, last played for the Bulldogs in 2016 after a 4-year career. She became the first-ever volleyball player inducted into the SWOSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

There has not been a second…yet. Mott is undoubtedly making her case to join the elite of the elite in Bulldog lore.

Entering Tuesday’s regular-season home finale, Mott led the GAC in kills (4.12) and points (4.66) per set and all outside hitters in the conference with a .317 season hitting percentage.

Mott, Courtney Crownover (2019 WHS graduate with 51 kills and 72 assists on the season) and the Bulldogs will close out the regular season and conference play at 6 p.m. Thursday on the road against Southeastern Oklahoma State. The side will then enter the GAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The conference tournament is slated for Nov. 21-23 in Hot Springs, AR.

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Travis M. Smith | @Travis5mith

tsmith@elliscosports.com