Chickasha, Okla.—Panhandle State volleyball split a Sooner Athletic Conference series on the road this week, gaining a win over the University of Science and Arts-Oklahoma on Saturday (3-2) after falling to Mid-America Christian in five sets on Friday.

The Aggies held the upper hand over the Evangels, taking two straight sets to start Friday's SAC matchup. Taking 12 points on MACU errors in set one, Panhandle put up nine points on kills and four on blocks led by junior Kendra Butler. Butler accounted for four kills and two block assists in the Aggies' 25-20 win in game one. In set two, Butler put up the first point for Panhandle on a duo-effort block with teammate Melody Ethley. Sophomore Kylie Hixson went on to serve four straight points, giving the Aggies an early 5-2 advantage.

The Evangels rallied back with a six-point spree to edge ahead 8-5, but Butler helped the Aggies bounce back with consecutive kills off the serve of senior Summer Middleton. Middleton planted an ace to tie things up at 8-8, and a kill by Quiara Pointdexter pulled Panhandle back into a one point lead. Pointdexter went on to dominate, adding up five kills and two service aces to help the Aggies claim the 25-15 victory in set two. MACU maintained their composure and mounted the comeback with three straight wins over the Aggies (25-22, 25-18 and 15-12).

Butler and Pointdexter led the match in scoring with 18.5 and 16.5 points apiece. Butler finished with 16 kills and five block assists, while Pointdexter collected 13 kills, two aces and three block assists. Libero McKenna Clement and setter Cailyn Berry each held game-high numbers in their respective positions; Clement totaled 33 digs and Berry contributed 33 assists.

In an equally exciting SAC contest, Panhandle State and USAO settled a shootout-style showdown in five sets, with the Aggies emerging victorious. The Drovers dealt an initial defeat to the Aggies 25-23 in a head-to-head battle in set one. The Aggies controlled the pace in set two, taking generous leads of 7-2 and 18-6 on solid service stints by Summer Middleton and Lauren Hastings. Butler brought down six kills and two block assists in the 25-13 trounce.

USAO put the Aggies away with a 25-17 win in set three, but Panhandle players pulled together to extend the match with a fourth-set victory 25-16. The Aggies got out to a good start in the fifth set, holding a 4-1 early in the game. The Drovers tied it up at 5-5, but consecutive services aces by Summer Middleton swung the lead back in favor of the Aggies. USAO swung five lead changes through the 15-14 mark when the Aggies gathered the last three points to triumph 17-15 and notch their fourth conference win.

Head Coach Signe Coombs saw growth in her team stating, "It was a true testament to our team's character to bounce back with a five-set road win on Saturday. There were moments that we didn't execute our best volleyball and USAO had our backs pinned to the wall. The team showed a lot of grit, resiliency and persistence and found a way to win." Coombs concluded, "These are the wins that we learn most about the team's mental toughness and character. I was proud to see our team get a big road win."

With the win, the Aggies move to 5-15 on the season and sit .500 in SAC play with a 4-8 conference record. The team remains on the road this week, facing stiff competition at Texas Wesleyan and Southwestern Assemblies of God Universities; two top-ranked teams within the Sooner Athletic Conference. Panhandle meets with a 10-2 TWU team on Friday, Oct. 12, before moving on to an undefeated SAC team at SAGU on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Lions are 21-1 on the season and own a No. 25 national ranking in the NAIA.