SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Oklahoma City University wrapped up a record-setting season in a 16-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-19 loss to Northwestern (Iowa) on Friday in the NAIA women's volleyball championships presented by Marriott South Sioux City Riverfront at the Tyson Events Center.
Ella Lofton, a junior from Cedar Park, Texas, pounded a career-best 18 kills for OCU. The 16th-ranked Stars finished the season 34-4, while second-ranked Northwestern improved to 32-1.
Oklahoma City tied the 2007 team for the most victories in a season with 34 while setting a program mark with a 33-match winning streak. The Stars posted the school's fifth 30-win season to go along with their fifth national-tournament appearance, third trip to the final site of the NAIA Championships and fourth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships this season.
OCU enters next year with a 36-match winning streak at Abe Lemons Arena and 26 consecutive victories in conference play. In 2019, the Stars went 20-0 in league play to notch the 12th unbeaten conference mark in SAC history.
"I'm so grateful for this group of girls," OCU coach Kristen Coventon said. "They have made my first season here at OCU unforgettable. We are so proud of our two seniors and the mark they have left on this program. They have been an important part of this team, and they will be greatly missed. While we are sad the season has ended, we are excited for the future of this program moving forward."
The Stars reached bracket play in the NAIA Championships for the second time by winning tiebreaker sets against Morningside (Iowa) and 17th-ranked Providence (Mont.) late Thursday night.
"I'm so proud of this team," Coventon said. "The grit and determination they showed to make it to bracket play here in the national tournament was nothing short of amazing. We were warming up for our second playoff game at 12:30 a.m., and they didn't even get phased. And then they get about six hours of sleep and go toe-to-toe with No. 2 Northwestern. I couldn't be more proud of them."
In the first set, Lofton had a kill to put OCU in front 11-4. Marijana Bjelobrk and Catelyn Vargas formed the block to give the Stars a 23-14 advantage.
Lofton nailed consecutive kills to help the Stars move ahead 6-1 in the third set. Northwestern rallied and put together an 8-0 run to lead 20-11.
Lacy Beeler, a junior from Jenks, Okla., delivered 15 kills, a career-high 28 digs to go with four blocks. She owns 18 double-doubles on the year. Sophia Salak, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, accumulated 51 assists and 12 digs for her 13th double-double this season. Salak finished the season with four 50-assist performances in five sets.
Bjelobrk, a senior from Belgrade, Serbia, turned in 12 kills, 14 digs and six blocks for her sixth double-double this year. Bjelobrk set the OCU career record with 1,476 kills. Isabel Harwell, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., scooped up 16 digs for the Stars.
Vargas, a redshirt freshman from Lubbock, Texas, and Kenady Bertling, a sophomore from Baytown, Texas, each collected five blocks.

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