CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Oklahoma City Volleyball team tied the program record for blocks in a single match as the Stars sweep the season series over USAO in Wednesday's four set road win.

Oklahoma City 3, Science & Arts 1

Set 1: 25-9 (OCU)
Set 2: 25-20 (USAO)
Set 3: 25-22 (OCU)
Set 4: 25-20 (OCU)

STAR OF THE SHOW: Rylee Steward set a new season-high and tied the second most blocks in her career with a total of 10 while tabbing nine kills. 

THE RUNDOWN

Set 1
Oklahoma City got off to a strong start by opening with a 10-2 run as three freshmen laid down the hammer with Bailey Lowder, Grace Smallwood and Erin Mack all adding kills. OCU kept its foot down rattling off six straight points to ignite an 11-2 run led by Smallwood serving up a pair of aces while Rylee Steward sent down a kill and swatted away a Drover attack.The Stars finished things off with a Ruby Kelley kill and a Joeci Hunt ace that gave Oklahoma City its largest set win of 25-9 over the Drovers since 2019.  

Set 2
Oklahoma City got out to its biggest lead of 12-7 after putting together an 8-1 run as Maddie Edwards and Steward came up with a kill and block each. Science & Arts was able to turn things around and take the lead at 15-14 and eventually grew its lead up to five. OCU cut the deficit to three after Kelley delivered a kill and an ace during the three point stretch. Trailing by two, OCU couldn't come any closer as USAO ran away with stragiht points to close out the second set 25-20.

Set 3
Trading points on the first six possessions, the third set did not see its first gap of more than two points until Oklahoma City rattled off four consecutive points as Michela De Stefano provided the kill to start the run. The set remained tight as Science & Arts tied it at 20-20 but never could take back the lead as OCU finished a 4-1 run to win 25-22. 

Set 4
Oklahoma City opened up with the first five points of the set as Kaitlyn Dunlap served the very first point with an ace. Science & Arts made its way back to take a 10-8 lead before another run by the Stars of four straight points on kills by Kelley and Smallwood gave the advantage back to the Stars. Trailing by two, OCU once again worked its way back with a 7-1 run as Kelley came up with two kills to put OCU on top 22-18. Steward made the final two big plays coming up with a kill before clinching the match winning block alongside Maddie Edwards that secured the 25-20 set victory. 

Game Notes

• Oklahoma City wins its fourth match in a row and its seventh in the last eight games moving its record to 14-11 overall and 14-5 in SAC play. 
• OCU tied the program record for blocks in a single-match with 18 on the night tying the record set back on Nov. 8, 2022 against John Brown. 
• Ruby Kelley tabbed a game-high 14 kills while tying a career-high of eight blocks.
• Grace Smallwood led the night with 11 digs, her 17th match of the year reaching double-digits. 
• Natalie Adams posted her fifth double-double the season by having a team-high 24 assists to go along with 10 digs.
• Jaiden Downey notched her third double-double of the season by having 11 assists and 10 digs. 
• Maddie Edwards saw her best blocking night of the season with a career-best seven blocks surpassing her previous total of five set back on  Aug. 24 against Cumberland.
• Oklahoma City remains perfect all-time against Science Arts by sweeping the season series and moving the head to head record of 16-0 in favor of OCU.

Up Next
Oklahoma City is back in action on Friday night against Mid-America Christian on the road at 7:00 PM. 

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