Women's Volleyball | 8/29/2019 5:54:00 PM
GOODWELL, Okla. - The first 2019 home volleyball contests for Oklahoma Panhandle State University will take place on Friday (August 30), as Panhandle plays host to its own OPSU Tri-Match. Joining the Aggies, at Anchor D Arena at the Oscar Williams Fieldhouse, will be the University of the Southwest and Sterling College.
"Last weekend was a 'learning tournament'," OPSU Head Volleyball Coach
Shelby Bartley reflected. "We met great competition; we met some level competition. We stepped up to the plated when it was needed and I think we took a lot from this past weekend.
"This week we hit the court hard. We are training on us and focusing what we need to work on…stuff that we lacked in confidence in last weekend, so that we can bring that in to this weekend."
Links for video and live stats can be found on the Panhandle State Athletics web site:
www.opsuaggies.com.
OPSU GAME NOTES:
*TOURNEY SCHEDULE: The OPSU Tri-Match will feature three contests: 3:00 p.m.- University of the Southwest vs. Panhandle; 5:00 p.m.- Sterling vs. University of the Southwest; 7 p.m.- Sterling vs. Panhandle. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for Senior Citizens, and; $3 for Military. Children under 10 years of age are free.
*LAST TIME THEY MET: During the 2018 campaign, OPSU lost to University of the Southwest (1-3) and Sterling (0-3), both matches at the OPSU Aggie Challenge Tourament.
*4 UNDER THEIR BELT: OPSU went 1-3 in last weekend's KCAC Fall Fling in Hutchison, Kansas. The Aggies went 1-3 in the KCAC event, losing to both Bethany College, 0-3 (15-25, 21-25, 13-25), and McPherson College, 0-3 (7-25, 11-25, 17-25), on Friday, before splitting Saturday's bouts with a hard-fought win over Avila University, 3-2 (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 21-25, 16-14), and capping the tourney with a loss to Tabor, 1-3 (17-25, 26-24, 18-25, 11-25).
*#1 OF MANY TO COME: The victory versus Avila was even more special for Panhandle State, as it represented the first career-head coaching win for the Aggies'
Shelby Bartley. In her first season at the OPSU helm, Bartley served as an assistant for the program in 2018.
*THE BUTLER DID IT: In the four contests in Kansas, Panhandle was paced by senior
Kendra Butler (Conroe, Texas/Conroe H.S.), who amassed 31 kills (2.07 kills per game). Butler had a sterling .300 attack average and also had a total of eight blocks.
*NEWCOMERS SHINE: Junior transfer
Hannah Murray (Ankeny, Iowa/Iowa Central C.C.) had a nice debut as an Aggie, with a total of 28 kills and 3.53 digs per set (53 total). Freshman
Sydnee Saunders (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland H.S.) also got her OPSU career off on the right foot with 29 kills (2.07 k.p.s.) and 47 digs (3.36 d.p.s.), along with a team-high total of three serve aces. Another newcomer, sophomore transfer
Deagan Dingman (Paris, Texas/Paris H.S./Vernon C.C.) averaged 25 assists per match with 100 "helps" in the quartet of matches. Another junior transfer,
Keeley Johnston (Wichita Falls, Texas/Notre Dame Catholic H.S./Vernon C.C.) appeared in all four matches over the weekend, as well, rolling up 12 kills, 20 assists, 16 digs and six blocks.
*NEXT FOR THE AGGIES: Panhandle State will travel to Oklahoma Wesleyan University for a non-conference match on Tuesday, September 3 (6 p.m.).
