OKLAHOMA CITY - Saturday's Volleyesta Tournament Finale saw Oklahoma City fall to Cumberland (TN.) in four sets completed an 0-3 weekend for the Stars.

Cumberland 3, Oklahoma City 1

Set 1: 20-25
Set 2: 25-23
Set 3: 19-25
Set 4: 21-25

STAT OF THE GAME: Joeci Hunt led the match with 22 digs which set a new season-high for Hunt surpassing her previous total of 17 set on Friday against Our Lady of the Lake.

THE RUNDOWN - Oklahoma City took an early 9-5 lead with four consecutive points with the help of Maddie Edwards delivering the lone kill during the run. A pair of freshman for the Stars helped OCU take its largest lead of the first set behind a kill from Bailey Lowder and an ace by Erin Mack. The Phoenix turned on the Jets rattling off eight straight points giving Cumberland its first lead since the score was 3-2. Oklahoma City came right on back four in a row with a kill coming from Mack to retake the lead at 19-18. Cumberland heated up once more and took control for one final time going on a 7-1 run to close out the set. 

The second set was neck-and-neck halfway through with Oklahoma City holding its biggest lead at 14-10. As Cumberland trailed by just two, OCU was able to stretch out its lead to 24-20 as Edwards and Grace Smallwood had a kill each to give the Stars set point. Roaring back was the Phoenix bringing the deficit down to one and closing in on Oklahoma City. OCU avoided the Cumberland comeback by earning the set victory on the following possession at 25-23.

In the third set, Cumberland got out to a 7-3 lead and never looked back. The Phoenix never trailed during the third set despite Oklahoma City making a handful of runs cutting the lead to as small as three after two aces from Joeci Hunt. Cumberland's biggest lead was 21-14 and wrapped up the set by winning 25-19.

The only lead Oklahoma City was able to have came right out the gate at 1-0 as Rylee Steward opened up with a kill. Cumberland immediately took the lead once and for all however the Stars were able to cut the deficit down to one on seven different occasions throughout the fourth set and at 22-20 the Phoenix closed it down with a 3-1 run to win the match in four.

NOTES

• Oklahoma City set its season-high with 39 total assists as Jaiden Downey set a career-high with 16.
• OCU tied its season-high with seven aces to lead the match as Joeci Hunt collected a season-high with three while Grace Smallwood tallied two.
• Maddie Edwards had a solid defensive outing by setting a season-best 5.0 blocks.

COMING UP: Oklahoma City will take the next weekend off before jumping into conference play on the road Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. against new Sooner Athletic Conference member College of the Ozarks. 

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