OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 10, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's fledgling volleyball program recorded another first on Friday, and this one was exceptionally good – two match wins in one day.

Jessica Souza's ace capped a five-set thriller as the Eagles beat Newman (Kan.), and OC followed with a decisive three-set sweep of East Central during the Central Oklahoma-Oklahoma Christian Volleyball Invitational in the Eagles' Nest.

Playing its first fall season since 1983, OC (4-2) could potentially match its win total from the spring 2021 season on Saturday, when the Eagles host Western Colorado at 10 a.m. before traveling to local rival Central Oklahoma for a 6 p.m. match to complete what will be its fourth doubleheader in nine days.

Newman (4-1) entered the day with a 3-0 mark, its best start since the program began competing at the NCAA Division II level, but OC rebounded from a first-set loss to the Jets to win 19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13. 

Four Eagles recorded double-digit kills against Newman – Caitlynne Hudgens (14, to go with 14 digs), Talby Duerksen (13), Allyssa Hamlin (13, to go with 15 digs) and Yolaine Lopez (12). Lopez posted an outstanding .435 hitting percentage.

OC's three setters also each recorded a double-double – Spencer Plato (30 assists, 10 digs), Souza (21 assists, 12 digs) and Brylie Berryman (10 assists, 25 digs).

OC trailed 8-5 in the fifth set but tied the match with three straight kills – one by Morgan Demuth and two by Hudgens. Two kills by Duerksen put the Eagles ahead at 12-10.

Two OC errors allowed the Jets to pull even at 13-13, but Duerksen slammed home another kill before a dipping serve by Souza on match point eluded the only Newman player who had a chance at a return. It was the 10th ace of the match for OC, six of those served by Souza.

Riley Daughtery led Newman with 22 kills and 22 digs.

There was much less drama for the Eagles against East Central (0-6) as OC won 25-23, 25-19, 25-10. Lopez again had a strong hitting percentage (.560) to go with a team-high 16 kills. As a team, the Eagles posted a hitting percentage of .252, led by Lopez and Duerksen (.368, with eight kills).

The Tigers rallied from an 18-10 deficit in the first set to close within 24-23 before Plato set up a clinching kill by Hudgens. East Central led 19-16 in the second set but the Eagles scored the final nine points, eight on Plato's serve, with Kelsie Schiefelbein delivering the set-clinching kill.

It was all OC in the third set. Lopez had six kills in the set, including the one to end the match.

Nyah Walker led the Tigers with six kills. East Central posted only a .047 hitting percentage.