Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University came through with a 25-11, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23 victory over John Brown (Ark.) on Tuesday at Abe Lemons Arena.
Raissa Santos, a senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, spearheaded OCU with 15 kills and 27 digs. The Stars moved to 9-12, 2-2 in Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball.
Santos notched her 16th double-double of the year. Alex Benbrook, a senior from Enid, Okla., registered 12 kills and three blocks, while Meghan Irwin, a freshman from Arlington, Texas, pitched in 10 kills, 16 digs and four blocks for OCU.
Victoria Cross, a senior from Oklahoma City, picked up 29 digs, and Danielle Robison, a sophomore from Dallas, amassed 41 assists and 10 digs for the Stars. Anna Gentry, a sophomore from Stillwater, Okla., contributed 11 digs, and Torrie Flynn, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., had six blocks.
In the fourth set, OCU overcame 9-4 and 19-14 deficits to clinch the match. The Stars staged a 7-1 run to grab a 21-20 edge. Santos began OCU's 7-1 surge with a kill, then Benbrook knocked down four kills, including the go-ahead kill.
“We picked up our energy level,” OCU coach Nikki Dieball said. “Alex was huge for us in that last set. We had some letdowns, but we buckled down. I was proud of how we fought. We played well defensively and worked hard.”
Benbrook's kill put OCU ahead 22-21, then Robison's kill gave OCU match point at 24-22. Staci Williamson answered with a kill, but Irwin put away the match by hammering down a kill.
Santos had kills that gave the Stars 8-3 and 18-9 first-set advantages. Robison put down a kill to bring up set point at 24-11.
In the second set, the Stars created a 20-16 cushion after leading 17-16. Santos had a kill, then a block, and Flynn and Irwin teamed on a block for OCU's three consecutive points.
The Stars meet Mid-America Christian at 7 p.m. Thursday on the road.
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