OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University eliminated Panhandle State from the Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball tournament quarterfinals 25-15, 25-15, 25-18 on Tuesday evening at Abe Lemons Arena.
Marijana Bjelobrk, a junior from Belgrade, Serbia, served as the Stars' ringleader with 15 kills, seven digs and three blocks. Oklahoma City (28-3) faces Southwestern Christian at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the SAC Tournament semifinals.
Taylor Horton, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., collected 29 assists, four digs and two kills, and Ella Lofton, a sophomore from Cedar Park, Texas, delivered nine kills and three digs for the Stars.
Lacy Beeler, a sophomore from Jenks, Okla., supplied OCU with eight kills and four digs, while Lauren Hermes, a junior from The Colony, Texas, produced 14 digs. Caitlin Bosarge, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., turned in 12 digs and a team-high three aces, and Isabel Harwell, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., added 12 digs. The Stars' Kenady Bertling, a freshman from Baytown, Texas, chipped in three blocks.
In the first set, Bosarge served up consecutive aces to cap a 6-0 run and give OCU a 20-11 advantage. Bjelobrk sparked the onslaught with a kill and combining with Bertling on a block.
The Stars reeled eight consecutive points in the second set. Lofton sparked OCU with two kills and a solo block. Bertling wrapped up the set by nailing back-to-back kills.
OCU overcame a 5-2 third-set deficit. The Stars used a 4-0 run to move ahead 12-9 and take the lead for keeps. Bjelobrk smacked a pair of kills during the OCU surge.
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At Campus Sites
Tuesday's Results
Oklahoma City def. Panhandle State, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-18)
Southwestern Assemblies of God def. Mid-America Christian, 3-0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-18)
Southwestern Christian def. John Brown, 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-23)
Texas Wesleyan def. Wayland Baptist, 3-2 (25-18 ,23-25, 23-25,25-16, 15-9)
At Oklahoma City
Abe Lemons Arena
Friday's Matches
Semifinals
Southwestern Christian (21-7) at Oklahoma City (28-3), 4:30 p.m.
Southwestern Assemblies of God (28-3) vs. Texas Wesleyan (23-9), 45 minutes following conclusion of first semifinal
Saturday's Match
Championship
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
