SHAWNEE, Okla. – Oklahoma City University notched its first win over a ranked volleyball opponent this year, beating Oklahoma Baptist 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 on Thursday at the Noble Complex.

The Stars picked up their third win ever over an NAIA ranked team, improving to 8-14, 2-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. OCU had been 0-3 against ranked foes this year. Oklahoma Baptist (17-5, 1-2) entered the match ranked 21st in the NAIA.

Xiaoting Ma, a junior from Dalian, China, topped OCU with 12 kills to go with nine digs and two blocks. Vicky Murphy, a sophomore from Spring, Texas, led the defense with 11 digs, while Shelbey Veselka, a junior from Boerne, Texas, added 10 digs.

Samantha Ball, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., rang up 29 assists, nine digs and two blocks, and Alex Benbrook, a sophomore from Enid, Okla., recorded eight kills and two blocks. The Stars picked up five team blocks to Oklahoma Baptist's three.

OCU got out to a 5-1 lead to start the match as Jeannee Campbell assisted on Ma's kill, pounded out a kill then rejected Tamy Leipelt's attack.

Oklahoma Baptist battled back to cut OCU's lead to 19-17, but Campbell answered with a kill. Ball gave OCU set point with a kill, then Benbrook nailed down the clinching kill.

The Stars came from behind in the second set. OCU scored four points in a row to erase a 16-13 deficit as Victoria Cross had an ace, and Adrienne Tillery pounded out a kill. Ma tallied three kills as OCU scored four consecutive points to pull away from a 19-19 tie. Benbrook gave OCU set point, then the second set with a pair of kills.

In the third, OCU built a 15-9 advantage, but Oklahoma Baptist responded to pull to within 19-18. Lindsay Hansen answered with a kill. Ma ignited a match-ending 4-0 OCU run with a kill as Tillery served on the final three points.

OCU faces Mid-America Christian at 7 p.m. Tuesday in an away match.
OCU-OBU Stats