PARKVILLE, MO.– On Friday, the Oklahoma City University Stars volleyball team fell short after a surging second set. OCU is participating in the Pirate Invitational hosted by Park University (Mo.), and the Stars will play in three total games before beginning Sooner Athletic Conference play on Sept. 5.


Set Results
The Stars lost the match in four sets, 18-25, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25.


How It Happened
OCU won four straight points late in the first set to shrink a 13-22 deficit to 17-22 before ultimately surrendering the opening set to the home Pirates. Oklahoma City trailed 3-7 early in the second set but strung together an impressive 7-0 run, which included three service aces. 

After dominating the second set, OCU narrowly dropped the ensuing two sets. Throughout the match, there were competitive and high-energy volleys that featured upwards of 10 and 15 touches. Other than a few untimely service errors committed by both teams, there were no easy points earned in the contest. 

Going into the third set, the Stars were outshooting the Pirates 22-20, and for the entirety of the match, collected nine more kills than Park. 

The third set saw back-and-forth point scoring by both teams. Each time one offense would generate a point or go on a run of three points, the other team's offense would answer. OCU was the first team to 20, and that 20th point came on an attacking error by the Pirates. However, Park was gifted three straight points to close out the set.

Much like the third set, the fourth set saw neither team able to distance itself from the other. The Stars tied the set at 13 all when Erin Mack killed an assist by Natalie Adams. Adams ended up with 43 assists and now has back-to-back games with 40+ assists. There were four lead changes in the fourth set and 11 tie scores. 

The match went final when Silvia Albani set Isadora Dias up for a kill.


Three-Headed Monster
Three Stars notched 10 or more kills– Grace Smallwood (20), Kaylie Marshall (14), and Mack (10). The trio was responsible for 44 of the 54 total attacks for OCU. 

 

Can You Dig It?
More impressively, four OCU players tallied at least 10 digs, with freshman Katelyn Stephenson leading the way with 28. Marshall recorded 18 digs to go with her 14 kills. Standout sophomore Smallwood nearly earned a 20-20 game with her 18 digs. 

 

On The Radar
OCU takes its 2-2 record into the second day of the Pirate Invitational tomorrow with two games, first at 10 a.m. against Bethel (Kan.) and second at 2 p.m., the Stars will play University of Saint Mary (Kan.).

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