OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City opens the 2025 volleyball season this weekend with three matches in the Our Lady of the Lake University's Halo Classic.
 
The stars open the season on Friday with a contest against the host Saints at 12:30 p.m., followed by a 5:30 match against William Carey. The weekend ends with a Saturday match against Embry-Riddle at 1 p.m.
 
OCU Notebook
 
Killers Return: Three of OCU's top five kill producers are back this season, including the top two. Grace Smallwood contributed 233 kills. Also back are 100-kill performers Bailey Lowder (111) and Maddie Edwards (110).
 
It's a Set-up: Setter Natalie Adams is back for her junior season after leading the Stars with 663 assists last season. Adams had 793 as the primary setter in 2023. Adams was third in the SAC last season.
 
Amazing Grace: Grace Smallwood's freshman season was a strong one. Not only did she get 233 kills, but she also led the team with 353 digs and was successful on 96.4 percent of her 501 service receptions.
 
Tough Up Front: Oklahoma City has been in the top three in the Sooner Athletic Conference in blocks for the last four seasons. The Stars led the SAC in 2023 and were third in blocks per set last season. Maddie Edwards had 53 blocks last season.
 
Key Transfers: The Stars expects a big impact from its two transfers this season: Biljana Milosevic from Morton College and Kaylie Marshall out of Southern Nazarene. Milosevic is a middle blocker and Marshall is an outside hitter. Both are juniors.
 
Fresh Faces: Four freshman dot the 2025 OCU roster: defensive specialists Kate Cleofe from Tyler, Texas, and Katelyn Stephenson from Westmoore High School; setter Summer Clark from Willis, Texas; and outside hitter Kacie Townsend from Newcastle.
 
They're Back: OCU returns nine players from last year. Joeci Hunt and Layla Olvera are back as defensive specialists. Marina Kalajdzic and Maddie Edwards are back at middle blocker. Bailey Lowder, Grace Smallwood and Erin Mack are back in their outside hitter roles. Setters Natalie Adams and Ryan Leland also return.
 
For Openers: The Stars are looking for their first season-opening victory since the 2020-21 season when they defeated Texas Wesleyan in the COVID season. Those setbacks have come at the hands of Hastings last season, No. 1 Jamestown in 2023, Oklahoma Wesleyan in 2022 and Southwestern Assemblies of God (now Nelson) in 2021.
 
A Little History: Our Lady of the Lake has won the last two matches in the series, both coming in San Antonio. The Stars are meeting William Carey and Embry-Riddle for the first time.
 
Scouting OLLU: Our Lady of the Lake finished 19-12 last season. Lauren Reynard (815 assists, 33 aces) and Mia Francis (305 kills) return from that squad.
 
About William Carey: William Carey went 29-11 last season and ended the year with a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Sofia Bettini, who was second on the team last year with 363 kills, returns as do assists leader Katarina Vulic (9.6) and digs leader Evelyn Araujo (3.68).
 
The Scoop on Embry-Riddle: Embry-Riddle is coming off a 15-13 season. Most of the statistical leaders from last season have graduated but Emma Barber, who had 232 kills a year ago, returns.
 
Recapping 2024: The Stars were 15-15 last season, including a 14-8 record in the Sooner Athletic Conference. OCU reached the semifinals of the SAC Tournament, pushing top-seeded Nelson to five sets before falling.
 
Coach Kristen Coventon: Coach Coventon comes into the season with 195 career coaching wins – 109 of those at Oklahoma City. She picked up her 100^th win of her Stars era at home against USAO on Sept. 28.