OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University knocked off Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) 26-24, 23-25, 25-13, 25-22 on Saturday afternoon at Abe Lemons Arena. 

Ella Lofton and Sophia Salak reached milestones in Oklahoma City history in the contest. The Stars kept pace in the Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball standings, improving to 10-6, 9-3 SAC. 

OCU and Southwestern Assemblies of God (15-6, 9-3 SAC) entered a three-way for second place in the league with Mid-America Christian. Texas Wesleyan and Wayland Baptist (Texas) finished the weekend tied atop the standings with 10-2 SAC marks. 

Salak took over as the Stars' career assist leader Saturday. Salak, a senior from McKinney, Texas, produced a career-best 61 assists to put her career total at 3,059. In the third set, Salak set up Catelyn Vargas for a kill to cut Southwestern Assemblies of God's lead to 3-2 to equal the record. Salak dished to Vargas for another kill to tie the set 7-7 and break the mark. Erin Hirt previously held the record after accumulating 3,035 for OCU from 2006-07. 

Lofton joined exclusive company by surpassing 1,000 career kills. Lofton, a senior from Cedar Park, Texas, posted a season-high 18 kills to give her 1,015 kills as a Star. Lofton collected her 1,000th kill when she nailed the kill to cut OCU's first-set deficit to 10-8. Lofton became the seventh Star to collect 1,000 kills.  

"That was a really hard-fought match after a tough match last night," OCU coach Kristen Coventon said. "I thought our passing looked phenomenal which you can see in our offense. All of our hitters did a fantastic job today. 

"I'm so proud of Ella eclipsing that 1,000-kill mark. She works extremely hard and has meant a lot to this program. And Sophia breaking the assist record is the cherry on top. She has worked so hard as well, and to accomplish what she has is nothing short of amazing. For two teammates to reach these milestones in the same match is something really special." 

Salak surpassed her previous career high of 60 assists she compiled against Providence (Mont.) on Dec. 3, 2019 in the NAIA Championships in Sioux City, Iowa. Salak put together her sixth double-double of the year with 14 digs, two aces and two blocks.  

Lofton matched her career best with 18 kills while adding 18 digs and three aces. Ruby Kelley, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., supplied the Stars with 16 kills and three blocks, while Catelyn Vargas, a junior from Lubbock, Texas, turned in 15 kills, five digs and four blocks. 

Kenady Bertling, a senior from Baytown, Texas, contributed 12 kills, five digs and two aces, and Josie Thomas, a freshman from Choctaw, Okla., reeled in 26 digs for her second 25-dig performance for Oklahoma City. 

Kelley smacked a pair of kills to secure the first set for the Stars. In the third set, Lofton chipped in two kills to spark a 6-0 run to put OCU ahead 17-11. 

In the final set, Kelley pounded four kills in a row to give the Stars a 17-12 advantage. 

Oklahoma City faces Southwestern Christian at 6 p.m. Monday at Abe Lemons Arena. The Stars will play in their third contest in four days.