Volleyball 10/23/2014 11:25:00 PM

Stars pull out win over OBU

Season-high crowd boosts OCU to first win over ranked team this year

Kristen Macy produced 23 kills and 11 digs for OCU on Thursday.

Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University upended top 25-ranked Oklahoma Baptist 21-25, 26-24, 24-26, 25-17, 15-10 on Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena.
Kristen Macy, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., fueled the Stars with 23 kills and 11 digs in front of a season-best home crowd. OCU improved to 16-9, 8-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, while Oklahoma Baptist, ranked 20th in NAIA volleyball, dropped to 20-7, 10-2.
Oklahoma City notched its first victory over Oklahoma Baptist since a 30-28, 25-21, 19-25, 13-25, 15-13 win on Nov. 12, 2010 in the SAC Tournament. Oklahoma Baptist had won 56 of its previous 57 league contests and nine consecutive against the Stars entering Thursday. The Lady Bison's conference win streak ended at 53 against Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Oct. 10 in Shawnee, Okla.
"It was awesome to have almost a packed house on our side," OCU coach Kyle Steele said. "I think the tailgate brought some people. I saw a lot of sports teams here. It really provided us with the energy we needed. When you get start tired in the fifth set, that crowd can propel you. It did tonight."
Oklahoma City improved to 3-2 in five-set matches this year. The Stars posted their first win over a ranked opponent under Steele.
"Just gritty for us," Steele said. "We've been talking all season about having a refuse-to-lose mentality. We made smart plays when we had to. I'm proud of the girls' effort tonight. It's a big, big win for us over a top-25 team. To beat them ever is a significant accomplishment. They've been to the national tournament a number of years in a row now. I feel humbled to do it my first year."
Meghan Irwin, a senior from Arlington, Texas, rang up 17 kills, 13 digs and three blocks, while Chazmin Franklin, a junior from Bay City, Texas, supplied the Stars 13 kills and four blocks. Franklin made her first start of the year and second of her OCU career.
Oklahoma City's Taylor Chase, a junior from Yukon, Okla., posted 47 assists, 16 digs, five kills and two aces, and Kelley Shiels, a senior from Edmond, Okla., accumulated 21 digs. Tori Thomas, a sophomore from Norman, Okla., added 13 digs.
"We got volume out of Kristen tonight," Steele said. "Twenty-three is a huge number to hit. Meg was super efficient from set two on. Chaz hit .387 on the night. I can't say enough about what Chaz did for us tonight."
OCU scored the first three points of the decisive set. Franklin and Irwin smacked kills to help the Stars build an 8-3 advantage. The Stars went ahead 12-4 as Irwin, Chase and Holly Randall chipped in kills.
Oklahoma Baptist used its blocking to cut OCU's lead to 14-10. Aspen Healy and Macy teamed on a block to clinch the victory.
In the fourth set, Chase provided a pair of aces to help OCU snag a 4-0 advantage. The Stars' lead grew to 18-9 as Irwin had a block. OCU forced a fifth set thanks to Heather Watson's ace and Macy's kill.
Oklahoma Baptist overcame an 11-8 deficit to take the first set. Macy pounded two kills, then Healy added a kill as the Stars grabbed a 5-0 second-set lead. OBU rallied to get a 24-23 edge, but Oklahoma City tallied the final three points of the set.
In the third, OBU put together a 4-1 advantage, then got to set point at 24-22 on Priscila Mendes' kill. Irwin answered with a kill, and OCU tied the set 24-24. Mendes propelled the Lady Bison to the third-set win with a kill.
The Stars continue league play at Mid-America Christian at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Oklahoma City.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Chazmin Franklin: OH/RSH; 5' 11"; Junior

#14 Aspen Healy: RSH/OH; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Meghan Irwin: OH/MB; 6' 0"; Senior

#4 Kristen Macy: OH/MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#6 Kelley Shiels: DS/Libero; 5' 6"; Senior

#13 Tori Thomas: DS/Libero; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#16 Heather Watson: S/DS; 5' 8"; Junior

#18 Holly Randall: MB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#17 Taylor Chase: S; 5' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#7 Chazmin Franklin
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/RSH

#14 Aspen Healy
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RSH/OH

#11 Meghan Irwin
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH/MB

#4 Kristen Macy
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH/MB

#6 Kelley Shiels
: 5' 6"; Senior
: DS/Libero

#13 Tori Thomas
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: DS/Libero

#16 Heather Watson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: S/DS

#18 Holly Randall
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MB

#17 Taylor Chase
: 5' 7"; Junior
: S