EDMOND, Okla. (Sept. 11, 2021) – Down to 14 healthy players on Saturday, Oklahoma Christian's volleyball team battled but ultimately dropped both of its matches on the final day of the OC-Central Oklahoma Invitational.
A fifth-set rally fell just short as OC lost 3-2 to Western Colorado in the Eagles' Nest. A few hours later and a few miles north, at UCO's Hamilton Field House, the Eagles fell in straight sets to UCO (25-12, 25-22, 25-22) to finish 2-2 in the two-day event.
OC, in its first season since fall 1983, took UCO to five sets in a match during the spring 2021 campaign, but Saturday's match against a longtime NCAA Division II power proved much different. UCO (7-1) posted a .310 attack percentage and didn't give OC (4-4) much of an opening.
After UCO dominated the first set, a 5-0 run by the Eagles in the second set pulled OC even at 20-20, but two straight kills by the Bronchos allowed them breathing room and hey finished off the set. UCO never trailed in the third set to close the match.
Caitlynne Hudgens had 16 kills and 11 digs for OC, but only one other player (
Yolaine Lopez with seven) had more than four kills for the Eagles. UCO had three players record double-digit kills, led by Courtney Lane, who had 15 to go with 14 digs.
In the match against Western Colorado, the Eagles consistently fell behind early in sets, an issue that eventually cost them the match in the fifth set. Western Colorado won 22-25, 26-24, 25-16, 20-25, 15-12.
OC trailed 6-2 early in the first set but used a 6-0 to seize a 13-10 lead and maintained that narrow advantage the rest of the set, with
Kelsie Schiefelbein and
Morgan Demuth finishing the set with kills.
In the second set, the Mountaineers scored the first six points, putting OC in a deep hole. The Eagles eventually climbed out and had a set point at 24-23, but Western Colorado took the set on kills by Caroline Parker and Kat Finnerty and an OC attack error. A 5-0 run in the middle of the third set proved decisive for the Mountaineers.
OC controlled most of the fourth set, which
Talby Duerksen clinched with a kill. She led the Eagles with 13 kills in the match.
Western Colorado (5-3) jumped to leads of 4-0 and 12-4 in the fifth set before the Eagles rallied, closing the gap with six straight points. A kill by Lopez pulled OC within 12-10, but the Eagles came no closer as the Mountaineers closed out the match by taking advantage of three OC attack errors.
Allyssa Hamlin (11 kills, 15 digs), Lopez (10 kills, 10 digs) and
Spencer Plato (36 assists, 13 digs) each posted a double-double for OC. Parker had 16 kills for Western Colorado, while Jordyn Todd (12 kills, 18 digs) and Emily Mangone (12 kills, 13 digs) each had a double-double.
OC will open Lone Star Conference play on Friday, when the Eagles will visit the league's defending champion, No. 2-ranked Angelo State (Texas). The Eagles then will visit Lubbock Christian (Texas) – a team that beat OC 3-0 in Oklahoma City a week ago – the next day.
The Eagles' next home match will be Sept. 24 against LSC rival Texas Woman's.
