SAN ANTONIO – Oklahoma City bounced back from being down two sets for a 3-2 victory over Embry-Riddle in the Halo Classic on Saturday.
 
The Stars won the match, 23-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19, 15-13.
 
"I'm so proud of the grit and determination that we showed this weekend, especially considering we only had six days of practice before we played," said OCU Head Coach Kristen Coventon. "Such a good fight against three good teams. You could see us getting better every point and it was so fun to watch."
 
The Stars trailed 15-10 in the first set but used three Kaylie Marshall kills an ace by Katelyn Stephenson to take a 16-15 lead. OCU couldn't finish off that comeback as ERAU scored the last four points of the set.
 
Similarly, Embry-Riddle took the final three points of the second set for a come-from-behind 27-25 win.
 
Undaunted, the Stars fired back, holding the Eagles beneath a .100 attack percentage in the next two sets.
 
OCU got out to a 15-9 lead in the third set and was able to withstand another ERAU rally with Erin Mack getting the game-ending kill. A pair of four-point rallies in the fourth set and some scrappy defensive play kept the Eagles from gaining any momentum.
 
With the fifth set tied at 10-10, the Stars went on a 4-0 run fueled by kills from Mack and Marshall and a block by Marina Kalajdzic for a 14-10 lead. ERAU had one last rally but Marshall put an end to that drama with a kill for the 15-13 victory.
 
Three Stars had double-doubles, led by Marshall's 20 kills and 11 digs. Grace Smallwood output 16 kills to go with 19 digs. Natalie Adams put together 49 assists and 15 digs. Maddie Edwards finished with 11 kills.
 
Kalajdzic had three solo blocks and Stephenson added a dozen digs. Stephenson and Ryan Leland had a pair of aces each.
 
OCU takes its 2-1 mark to Parkville, Mo., next weekend when the Stars meet Park, Bethel and St. Mary.