RICHARDSON, Texas - Off its first 20-win season of the NCAA Division II era, the Oklahoma Christian women's volleyball program comes into the 2025 season picked seventh in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, the league office announced Monday, Aug. 25.

Seventh is the highest positioning OC has received in the LSC since the program's reinstatement in 2020. Accompanying the top-eight slot is the Eagles' top four attackers returning from last year's record season and three of its top four defenders, including its top four at the net.

"What excites me the most is we have a lot of returners coming back," head coach Asa Freeman said. "I think the previous seniors helped us start something and our returners are ready to [build on that momentum]."

Headlining Oklahoma Christian's returners are sophomore outside Chloe Jones, fellow senior outside Annie Davis and senior setter Sophie Mae Smith. Between the trio represents OC's single-season kills leader (Jones), all-time kills leader (Davis) and the current second-place all-time assists leader (Smith).

Jones was the conference's 2024 Co-Freshman of the Year and Second Team selection after delivering a single-season program record 376 kills while also finishing second on the team with 386 digs. The Waukee, Iowa, native finished the season as one of three players in the LSC in the top-20 in both kills per set (3.26) and digs per set (3.34).

Also returning from last year's LSC Tournament-qualifier is 2024 digs-leader Sara Freeman, blocks-leader Camryn McGough, Katy Geurin, Lauren Cary, Megan Rek, Kathryn Christie, Alexa Grogan, Ryland Pledger and Jordyn Zink.

For the new campaign, coach Freeman and his staff bring in true freshman setters Payton Cash and Zoe Wisdom, who have been with the team since the spring, defensive specialists Carsyn Hunt and Macey Nehring, setter Summer Van Meerveld, Elle Davis, Jaya Tarver, Kenzy McArtor, Lauren Brown and Lauren Villegas.

Oklahoma Christian opens the 2025 season in Wichita Falls, Texas, with the Midwestern State Invitational where OC will play three matches in two days, beginning with Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. After a trip out west for the Redwood Coast Volleyball Classic in Arcata, Calif., the Eagles will open its home slate Thursday, Sept. 18 against UT Permian Basin as part of the LSC Challenge.


2025 LSC PRESEASON RANKINGS
 

Rank	School	Total (1st-place votes)
1	Angelo State	933 (30)
2	West Texas A&M	919 (18)
3	UT Tyler	859 (3)
4	DBU	803 (2)
5	Texas Woman's	738
6	St. Mary's	633
7	Oklahoma Christian	616
8	Lubbock Christian	602
9	UT Permian Basin	542
10	Texas A&M-Kingsville	499
11	Midwestern State	436
12	Texas A&M International	371 (1)
13	St. Edward's	319
14	UT Dallas	272
15	Western New Mexico	265
16	Eastern New Mexico	204
17	Cameron	116
18	Sul Ross State	107