LANGSTON, Okla. – Oklahoma City University escaped C. Felton Gayles Gymnasium with the victory against Langston 21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-13, 15-11 on Tuesday night. 

The Stars improved to 4-0 in five-set volleyball matches this season. Oklahoma City moved to 6-6, 4-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference in 2022. 

In the fifth set, Riley Winkler served up an ace to propel OCU to a 5-1 advantage. Emma Vance added a kill, and Cassidy DeShong landed a service ace as the Stars moved ahead 13-8. Ruby Kelley delivered the kill to clinch the win. 

Oklahoma City rallied to take the fourth set. Michela De Stefano and Emma Nickerson crushed back-to-back kills, while Winkler posted consecutive aces to build a 10-6 lead for the Stars. Oklahoma City reeled off five points in a row for a 16-8 lead keyed by Vance's ace and Grundy's kill. 

Kelley, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., provided the Stars with 16 kills, six digs and two blocks, and De Stefano, a sophomore from Rome, turned in 11 kills and four digs for OCU. Vance, a junior from Norman, Okla., pitched in 18 assists, seven digs and two aces.  

Kaitlyn Dunlap, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, contributed 13 digs and seven assists, while DeShong, a sophomore from Amarillo, Texas, picked up 13 assists and eight digs. Rylee Steward, a junior from Edmond, Okla., collected eight kills and four blocks for Oklahoma City. 

The Stars continue conference play against Central Christian (Kan.) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena.