OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University pulled off a 22-25, 26-28, 25-16, 25-23, 15-13 victory against Southwestern Christian on Tuesday night at Abe Lemons Arena. 

Ruby Kelley propelled OCU with a career-high 20 kills. The Stars (3-1, 1-0 Sooner Athletic Conference) scooped up the win in their first league volleyball contest of 2022.

Kelley, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., added a career-best 22 digs to go with four blocks. Kaitlyn Dunlap, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, boasted of the 22nd 30-dig performance in Oklahoma City history with 36 digs along with two aces. Dunlap's total fell three digs shy of the program single-contest mark.

In the fifth set, the Stars came up with a pair of blocks to pull away from a 13-13 tie. Gabrielle Fjeseth and Rylee Steward teamed for the go-ahead block, then Fjeseth combined with Catelyn Vargas on the block to seal the win. 

In the fourth, OCU erased a 22-20 deficit. Kelley knocked down two kills, while Steward added another kill in the Stars' 5-1 run to send the match into the fifth set. 

Cassidy DeShong, a sophomore from Amarillo, Texas, rang up 35 assists and 13 digs. Vargas, a senior from Lubbock, Texas, provided OCU with 12 kills, three aces and three blocks, while Emma Vance, a junior from Norman, Okla., totaled 18 assists and 17 digs. Steward, a junior from Edmond, Okla., topped the Stars with six blocks. 

Oklahoma City meets John Brown (Ark.) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Abe Lemons Arena. 

30-Dig Club 
Oklahoma City University 
39—Josie Thomas vs. Texas Wesleyan, Oct. 8, 2021
36—Dani Chase vs. Midland, Sept. 1, 2017; Isabel Harwell at Evangel, Aug. 16, 2019; Kaitlyn Dunlap vs. Southwestern Christian, Aug. 30, 2022
34—Meghann Turner at Lubbock Christian, Sept. 23, 2006; Shelbey Veselka at Wayland Baptist, Sept. 22, 2007; Shelbey Veselka at Southern Nazarene, Oct. 14, 2008 
33—Nicole Gruenbacher at Southern Nazarene, Oct. 25, 2007; Lauren Hermes vs. Southwestern Christian, Sept. 11, 2018; Lauren Hermes vs. Southwestern Christian, Nov. 9, 2018 in Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament; Shelbey Veselka vs. Evangel, Sept. 26, 2008 
32—Danielle Robison vs. McPherson, Sept. 1, 2012; Danielle Robison vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God, Sept. 30, 2013 
31—Lauren Hermes vs. Texas Wesleyan, Nov. 10, 2018 in Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament; Kelley Shiels vs. Evangel, Sept. 6, 2014 
30—Dani Chase vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State, Oct. 4, 2017; Victoria Cross vs. Sterling, Sept. 10, 2011; Nicole Gruenbacher vs. Texas-Brownsville, Nov. 17, 2006 in NAIA Region VI Tournament at Houston; Isabel Harwell at Morningside, Dec. 4, 2019 in NAIA Championships at Sioux City, Iowa; Lauren Hermes vs. Texas Wesleyan, Oct. 20, 2018; Maryna Verbovetska vs. John Brown, Oct. 4, 2007; Maryna Verbovetska vs. Lubbock Christian, Nov. 10, 2007 in Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at Plainview, Texas