OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University takes a volleyball team heavy in experience into the 2019 season.
On a team of 14 student-athletes, 11 of them came back from last year's team after seeing action with another having redshirted. The Stars feature two newcomers.
The Stars take to the court for the first time this season in the Evangel Preseason Classic in Springfield, Mo. OCU opens with Missouri Baptist in a 4:30 p.m. tilt Thursday.
OCU meets host Evangel (Mo.) and Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) in other matches Friday. Follow the tournament on the event page and through live stats.
"We are looking to have another great year," OCU coach Kristen Coventon said. "We are returning almost the entire team from last year and added a couple of key pieces. We have such a large group of talented sophomores and great leaders in our juniors and seniors. This group of underclassmen has grown a lot since last season, and I am looking to see them step up even more. I expect our juniors and seniors to lead by example and set the tone for the season."
TOP RETURNERS
• Marijana Bjelobrk spearheaded OCU with 3.69 kills, 1.92 digs, 0.62 blocks and 4.14 points a set last year. Bjelobrk, a 6-foot-1 senior right-side hitter from Belgrade, Serbia, landed honorable-mention all-American, first-team all-NAIA South Central Region, first-team all-Sooner Athletic Conference, SAC hitter of the year and SAC Tournament most valuable player. She is a three-time first-team all-SAC and all-region performer
• Lacy Beeler posted 3.32 kills, 2.50 digs, 0.47 blocks, 0.15 aces and 3.75 points per set a year ago. Beeler, a 6-foot junior from Jenks, Okla., picked up second-team all-conference
• Ella Lofton, a 5-8 junior from Cedar Park, Texas, provided OCU with 2.36 kills, 0.93 digs and 0.38 blocks per set last year. Lofton was a second-team all-SAC choice
• Kenady Bertling, a 6-1 sophomore from Baytown, Texas, contributed 1.30 kills and 0.81 blocks a set, drawing honorable-mention all-SAC
NEW FACES
• With so many returnees on the roster, there are only two newcomers to the squad. Cecilia Campos, a 6-foot middle blocker from Natal, Brazil, turned in 3.59 kills, 1.59 digs and 0.63 blocks a set last year for Indian Hills (Iowa). She seized all-NJCAA Region XI honors last season
• Peyton Wright, a 5-6 sophomore outside hitter from Littleton, Colo., recorded 2.12 digs a set for Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.)
PRESEASON BUZZ
• OCU has been picked to finish second in the SAC according to the preseason league coaches' poll. The Stars collected 85 points and six first-place votes
MEET THE COACH
• Kristen Coventon took over as Oklahoma City coach in May. Coventon came to OCU after spending the past five years as Southwestern Christian head coach, leading the Eagles to many program benchmarks, including their most wins in a season (23), their first winning season and mentoring their first NAIA all-American
• She previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach for OCU
• She is vice president and founder of Rise Volleyball Club and has been head coach of the USA Volleyball Oklahoma region high performance team
MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR
• OCU opens its home slate against Paul Quinn (Texas) at noon Aug. 23 at Abe Lemons Arena in the Sooner Athletic Conference-Red River Athletic Conference Crossover
• The Stars' first home conference match will be 7 p.m. Sept. 13 against USAO
• OCU takes on preseason SAC favorite Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in Waxahachie, Texas, and 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at Abe Lemons Arena
