WAXAHACHIE, Texas – Oklahoma City University took a 25-16, 26-24, 25-19 setback to Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) on Monday night at the Sheaffer Center. 

Ruby Kelley topped Oklahoma City with seven kills. The Stars, ranked 19th in NAIA volleyball, fell in their season opener for the first time since 2017. 

OCU fell to top-ranked Hastings (Neb.) 26-28, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 on Aug. 25, 2017 in Grand Island, Neb., to begin that season. The Stars faced a conference foe on the road to start a year for the first time ever Monday night. 

Kelley, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., added two blocks. Sophia Salak, a senior from McKinney, Texas, totaled 18 assists, three kills, three digs and two blocks, and Ella Lofton, a senior from Cedar Park, Texas, posted six kills and six digs. 

Catelyn Vargas, a junior from Lubbock, Texas, supplied OCU with six kills and two blocks, while Isabel Harwell, a senior from Edmond, Okla., picked up 11 digs. Kenady Bertling and Olivia Nutter each added three kills and four blocks. 

Southwestern Assemblies of God snagged the second set by closing the set with three points in a row.  

The Stars meet Texas Wesleyan at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas.