EDMOND, Okla. - Coming off a year that saw the Oklahoma Christian women's volleyball program's first 20-win season of the NCAA Division II era, OC will begin the 2025 campaign in Wichita Falls, Texas, for the Midwestern State Invitational with a pair of matches Friday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and a single contest Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.

EAGLE OUTLOOK
Oklahoma Christian comes into the new season preseason ranked seventh in the Lone Star Conference - the program's highest ever LSC preseason ranking. The top-eight bidding comes after the Eagles reached the LSC Tournament as the seven seed after claiming an NCAA DII-best 20-7 record with a 9-7 conference stand.

Accompanying the historic season was 2024 LSC Co-Freshman of the Year and Second Team selection Chloe Jones, who returns for her sophomore campaign. 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).

Joining Jones among the key returners is senior outside hitter Annie Davis and senior setter Sophie Mae Smith, both of whom are the program's all-time leader in kills and second in assists, respectively. 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 has faced two of its three weekend opponents before, with the season-opening foe Southeastern Oklahoma State having met the Eagles three previous times. The maroon-and-gray have never lost to the Savage Storm, although the last two meetings have gone five sets. Likewise with Newman, Friday's second match, with the one previous meeting going the distance. Saturday will be Oklahoma Christian and William Jewell's first all-time matchup.

SCOUTING SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE
Southeastern Oklahoma State comes into this season picked seventh in the 2025 Great American Conference Preseason Poll. The Savage Storm closed the 2024 campaign with a 13-16 overall record before claiming the six seed in the GAC Tournament, which tied its second-highest postseason seeding since joining the league.

Making up the 2025 squad is eight returners from a year ago, including Third Team All-Conference senior libero Patience Lewis, who led the GAC in digs with 648, and 2024 kills-leader Noelia Rocha. Joining the tandem is five transfers and six freshmen.

SCOUTING NEWMAN
Newman enters this season under first-year head coach Mike MacNeill, who had a two-year stint at NCAA Division II Fresno Pacific. In his first season with the Sunbirds in 2022, MacNeill led FPU to a second-place regular season finish in the PacWest. Under MacNeill, three Sunbirds earned all-conference honors.

Entering a new era of Newman volleyball, the Jets were picked 12th in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association following a 3-17 conference record in 2024 that saw NU lose 14 of its final 15 matches. Newman will open the season against William Jewell Friday morning before meeting OC for the night cap at 7:30 p.m.

SCOUTING WILLIAM JEWELL
William Jewell will offer OC its second first-year coached opponent as Joe Adams takes over the Cardinals after spending 11 seasons at NCAA Division III Coe College as an assistant coach. During his time there, he helped the Kohawks to three NCAA Tournament appearances and four regular season conference championships.

William Jewell, as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, is coming off a 2024 season that saw just seven wins - the fewest in a season since 2020. In conference play, WJC picked up just one league match, which was tied for the worst such record since joining the GLVC in 2011.

HOW TO WATCH
All of Oklahoma Christian's matches this season will be available on FloCollege, including this weekend's three matches. For new users, more information on FloCollege and their monthly subscriptions can be found HERE.

TICKETS
Tickets will be distributed ONLINE ONLY for the Midwestern State Invitational. Fans looking to make the trip to Wichita Falls will need to purchase tickets HERE. Daily passes are available for $11 while students (with appropriate school ID), senior citizens and military are $8 each.