TOPEKA, Kan. — Oklahoma Christian volleyball opened the 2026 season Thursday evening at Lee Arena, falling to Washburn in four sets, 13-25, 30-28, 18-25, 14-25.
After dropping the opening set, the Eagles responded in the second set with a quality offensive performance. OC recorded 17 kills and hit .222 in the frame while battling through 10 tie scores and three lead changes. The Eagles eventually outlasted the Ichabods, 30-28, to even the match at one set apiece.
Washburn answered in the third, taking the set, 25-18, before closing the match with a 25-14 win in the fourth.
Jenna McClure led the OC attack in the season opener, finishing with a team-high 13 kills while adding 13 digs for a double-double. Chloe Jones followed with eight kills and 13 digs, while Lauren Cary turned in an efficient performance with six kills and no attacking errors on 22 attempts for a .273 hitting percentage. Cary also contributed six block assists.
OC used a pair of setters throughout the match, with Summer Van Meerveld handing out 21 assists and Emma Eyster adding 14. Eyster also recorded one of the Eagles' two service aces.
Defensively, Macey Nehring led Oklahoma Christian with 18 digs, while McClure and Jones each added 13 and Van Meerveld finished with 10. The Eagles totaled 67 digs and six team blocks on the night.
The Eagles will look to bounce back tomorrow facing William Jewell at 11:30 a.m. and Westminster in the afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Washburn Invitational.Â
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