BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Oklahoma City University fought its way to a 25-22, 25-10, 21-25, 25-16 victory over William Jewell (Mo.) on Friday at the Collins Center in the Baker volleyball invitational.
Host Baker (Kan.) edged the Stars 25-22, 22-25, 25-14, 20-25, 15-13 on Friday night. OCU fell to 2-4 this year.
Against Jewell, the Stars overcame deficits in the first, second and fourth sets en route to the win. Xiaoting Ma, a senior from Dalian, China, posted 19 kills, 19 digs and four aces to spearhead OCU.
In the first set, William Jewell rallied from a 9-3 deficit to lead 20-16. The Stars answered with the final six points of the set. OCU dug itself out of a 22-19 hole starting with Torrie Flynn and Vicky Murphy kills.
The Stars got to set point using Ma and Murphy kills, then Flynn and Ma teamed on a block to finish the set.
OCU tallied the final eight points of the second set to overcome an early deficit. Ma, Flynn, Raissa Santos and Murphy notched kills to start the Stars' set-clinching run. Ma completed the set by dropping in an ace.
William Jewell built a 9-3 lead on the way to the win in the third set.
OCU erased an early deficit in the final set. The Stars wrapped up the win with three consecutive points. Victoria Cross set down a kill, then Ma served up back-to-back aces.
Santos, a junior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, chipped in 11 kills and 19 digs, while Samantha Ball, a junior from Edmond, Okla., rang up 42 assists and eight digs for the Stars. Cross, a junior from Oklahoma City, picked up a career-high 24 digs.
Against Baker, Ma recorded 18 kills, 21 digs and three blocks, while Santos added 15 kills and 14 digs for the Stars.
Ball had 48 assists and seven digs, and Cross chipped in 18 digs. Benbrook notched nine kills and three blocks for OCU.
OCU upped its hitting percentage to .316 in the fourth set and .308 in the fifth.
In the fifth, Baker led 11-7 on Brooke Allen's kill. OCU cut its deficit to 13-11 after Murphy pounded down a kill, then combined with Benbrook on a block.
Brooke Pryor had a kill to give Baker match point at 14-11. OCU extended the match as Murphy and Benbrook nailed down kills. Pryor put away the win with a kill.
The Stars face Benedictine (Kan.) at 11 a.m., then Avila (Mo.) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Baldwin City, Kan.
OCU-WJC stats
OCU-Baker stats
