SAN ANGELO, Texas (Sept. 17, 2021) – Playing its first fall season of volleyball in 38 years, Oklahoma Christian of course drew probably the toughest possible Lone Star Conference opener – on the road against No. 2-ranked Angelo State (Texas).

OC did take early leads in the first two sets, but a veteran Angelo State squad quickly overpowered the young Eagles en route to a 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-15) sweep inside the Junell Center on Friday night.

The good news for the Eagles (4-5, 0-1 LSC) is they likely won't have to play another team ranked so high for awhile. Angelo State (8-2, 1-0) posted a strong .254 attack percentage and recorded 11 aces in the match, compared to .031 and one, respectively, for the Eagles.

OC scored the first point of the match, but the Belles outscored the Eagles 25-10 the rest of the set. Spencer Plato's ace put the Eagles up 3-0 in the second set, but Angelo State scored the next five points. OC rallied to go up 10-8, but a 4-0 run by the Belles gave them the lead and they pulled away to take the set.

Angelo State jumped to a 10-3 lead in the third set and never was challenged.

Yolaine Lopez led OC with five kills. Plato had 11 assists and 10 digs for the Eagles while Caitlynne Hudgens had 10 digs and four kills. Kailyn Gilbreath paced Angelo State with eight kills, 21 assists and six digs.

OC will complete its first weekend on the road in the LSC with a match Saturday at 2 p.m. at Lubbock Christian (Texas). LCU beat the Eagles 3-0 in a nonconference match in Oklahoma City on Sept. 3, the opening day of the season.