OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City volleyball team completed three consecutive sweeps with the win in three sets over Science & Arts as Ruby Kelley's big night of 15 kills leads the way for the Stars.  

Score   

Oklahoma City 3, Science & Arts 0   

• Oklahoma City (8-6, 7-2 SAC)   
• Science & Arts (7-7, 4-5 SAC)   

Match Summary   

Set 1: 25-10 (OCU)   

Set 2: 25-17 (OCU)   

Set 3: 25-22 (OCU)   
 

Set 1   

Oklahoma City rallied early with an 11-2 run to take a 12-5 lead off of five kills by Ruby Kelley and two aces by Kaitlyn Dunlap leading into a USAO timeout. The Stars continued to put their foot on the gas pedal as Gabrielle Fjeseth, Emma Nickerson and Kelley put OCU out in front 20-9 after three consecutive kills. Leading 20-10 the Stars closed out the first set with straight points capped off by kills from Michela De Stefano and freshman Natalie Adams to give Oklahoma City a 25-10 victory.  

Set 2   

To begin the second set Kelley started hot with three kills for the first OCU five points to give the Stars a 5-3 lead. USAO closed the gap to trail by just one at 11-10 after a kill from Gabrielle Gunnoe for the Drovers. OCU hit its stride scoring five straight points off of two kills by De Stefano and one by Nickerson to take a 16-10 lead. The Drovers brought it back to within three as the score sat at 19-16 only for Oklahoma City to finish the set off on a 7-1 run as Riley Winkler notched the set-winning ace for the Stars to win 25-17.  

Set 3    

After going down 1-0 OCU turned around and went on a 6-1 run to take a lead they never gave back up. Leading 9-7 the Stars strung together another big run, outscoring the Drovers 7-2 as freshman Jaiden Downey delivered back-to-back aces, and Nickerson and Adams each provided kills to put the Stars on top 17-9. USAO battled its way back to within a one-point deficit at 22-21 only for OCU to score on back-to-back possessions on kills from Adams and Hannah Grundy to give Stars a 24-21 lead on the verge of a sweep. The Drovers got back to within two after a service error however OCU clinched the sweep on a kill from Winkler on the ensuing possession to win 25-22.  

Game Notes   

• Oklahoma City notched 45 kills giving the Stars its highest number of kills in a three-set match this season while totaling 89 attacks. USAO was only allowed 20 kills on 69 total attacks.  
• The Stars tallied 39 assists, tying its highest total number of assists in a three-set match previously set back on Sept. 2 against Oklahoma Panhandle State.  
• OCU edged out the Drovers with 32 digs to USAO's 28 as each squad had three blocks each.  
• OCU collected nine aces, tying the second-most aces in a single match this season.  
• Ruby Kelley put together a big night with 15 kills on a .444 attack percentage. Kelley's 15 kills give her the most kills a Star has had in a three-set match this season and is the eighth time Kelley has reached double-digit kills this year.  
• Natalie Adams assisted on 33 attacks to tie her highest total of assists in a three-set match which last came against Oklahoma Panhandle State back on Sept. 2.  
• OCU earns three consecutive sweeps for the first time since September of 2021 after defeating Langston, Central Christian, and now USAO in the previous three matches.  
• Oklahoma City earns its second straight sweep over Science & Arts after winning in three sets on the road on Oct. 12, 2022. With the win, Oklahoma City moves to 13-0 all-time against USAO dating back to 2016. 

NEXT GAME   

OCU volleyball will have one day of rest before continuing its big week of Sooner Athletic Conference play as the Stars host the Evangels of Mid-America Christian on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 PM inside Abe Lemons Arena.