OKLAHOMA CITY – Texas Wesleyan slipped past Oklahoma City University 25-27, 25-22, 19-25, 36-34, 15-10 on Friday night at Abe Lemons Arena. 

Rylee Steward set an OCU record for a match with 13 blocks. The Stars went to 7-7, 5-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, while Texas Wesleyan, ranked 24th in NAIA volleyball, improved to 13-2, 7-0 in the SAC. 

Steward, a junior from Edmond, Okla., provided the Stars with 14 kills. She surpassed the previous mark of 10 blocks posted by Oliva Nutter on Oct. 12, 2021 against John Brown (Ark.) at Abe Lemons Arena and and by Adrienne Tillery on Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Lubbock Christian (Texas) in the SAC Tournament title match in Plainview, Texas. Oklahoma City piled up 17 blocks to equal the program record established Nov. 9, 2007 against Wayland Baptist (Texas) in the SAC Tournament semifinals. 

Texas Wesleyan came up with the final five points of the match. Carly Unruh knocked down two kills to spark the Lady Rams. OCU tied the score 10-10 after falling behind 7-3 at the start of the fifth set. 

In the fourth set, Texas Wesleyan prevailed despite the Stars bringing up match point five times. Steward and Catelyn Vargas pounded consecutive kills to put OCU ahead 34-33. Texas Wesleyan responded with the final three points of the frame. 

In the first set, OCU delivered the last three points of the set. Emma Nickerson crushed the kill to clinch the set. 

Ruby Kelley, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., turned in 16 kills, 23 digs, six blocks and two aces, while Emma Vance, a junior from Norman, Okla., collected her fourth double-double of the year with a season-best 26 assists and a career-high 20 digs for the Stars. 

Vargas, a senior from Lubbock, Texas, totaled 12 kills, and Kaitlyn Dunlap, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, picked up 28 digs. Cassidy DeShong, a sophomore from Amarillo, Texas, contributed 19 assists and eight digs. 

The Stars square off with 10th-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena.