OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The curtain came down on the 2019 season for the Oklahoma Panhandle State University volleyball team, as it was defeated in the opening match of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament, 3-0, at Oklahoma City University.  The Aggies capped the year with a record of 9-20 after the Stars (31-1), the NAIA's No. 18-ranked team, topped the Crimson & Blue by set scores of 25-16, 25-16, 25-22.
 
It was the second-consecutive season in which the Panhandle volleyball team had reached the SAC tournament, after never having seen post-season action at any time, previously, in its recorded program history.
 
While Panhandle State Head Coach Shelby Bartley's young team (there are just two seniors on the OPSU roster) battled the veteran OCU squad gamely, the experienced hosts were still able secure the win on their home floor. It was the third time the nationally-ranked Stars have defeated the Aggies this season.
 
The first two sets had near-identical plots, as OPSU stayed with OCU early in each set, only to see the Stars shoot ahead to stay midway through. In set three, the Aggies bolted out to a 4-0, then 6-1, lead. OPSU still led 11-8, when OCU reeled off five unanswered points to forge ahead 13-11 and never trail again. But Panhandle proved to be relentless, hanging close the rest of the way. OPSU got to within a single point, 22-21, before the Stars closed out the set, match and the OPSU season.
 
Individually, Hannah Murray led the Aggies in kills for the third-consecutive match, knocking down eight versus OCU. Murray had a .208 attack average for the night. She also had five digs and two blocks on her ledger.
 
Richelle Carroll booked six kills to go along with a team-leading 11 digs. 
 
Seniors Kendra Butler and Ruth Ard had three and two kills, respectively, in capping their Aggie careers. Ard added three blocks and Butler two.
 
Freshman Skylar Cleavinger and junior transfer Keeley Johnston also had three kills, apiece.  Johnston, a setter, had 19 assists, six digs, the Aggies' lone service ace and a block for her efforts.   
 
And while the result was no doubt not what the Aggies were hoping for, there is a realization that the program could be on the cusp of even greater successes in the future. With a tremendous core group of players all eligible to return next season, OPSU will look to continue its recent upward trend.