EDMOND, Okla. - For the second straight year, Oklahoma Christian will play volleyball in late November as the Eagles punched their ticket to the eight-team LSC Tournament Friday night after defeating Eastern New Mexico, 3-1.
On a night where seven seniors were honored, seniors
Annie Davis and
Kathryn Christie led the OC offense with 16 and 10 kills on a .364 and .500 attack percentage, respectively. Christie's 10 winners served as a season-high for her and her most kills since Oct. 14, 2023.
Chloe Jones recorded her 11th double-double of the season with her 15-dig, 10-kill showing while
Lauren Cary packed the stat sheet with three kills, five blocks and two service aces.
The night started with OC turning a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead after a 6-0 run that fueled the remainder of the opening set. Both sides traded points the rest of the way as the Eagles took the first frame, 25-19.
It was Eastern New Mexico's turn to get out quick in the second stanza as the Greyhounds never trailed, holding as big of a lead as 20-12 before knotting up the match, 25-16.
Senior
Camryn McGough and Davis were not about to let EMNU ruin Oklahoma Christian's senior night, however, as the duo combined for the first seven points of the third for the 7-2 lead. The Greyhounds refused to roll over, however, clawing back to tie it at 12-12 following a 6-0 run.
On the backend of a timeout from OC head coach
Asa Freeman, the Eagles did not trail by more than one the rest of the match, closing the third on a 5-0 run before scoring nine of the first 13 points in the fourth frame. In what was the maroon-and-gray's best hitting set of the night at a .583 clip, Oklahoma Christian took the set and the match, 25-13.
Friday marked the Eagles' 10th conference victory of the season, signaling OC's first 10-win conference season in program history. Oklahoma Christian will return to the Payne Athletic Center Saturday, Nov. 15 for the regular season finale when No. 13 West Texas A&M takes the floor at 2 p.m.Â