Women's Volleyball | 8/30/2019 11:22:00 PM

 
GOODWELL, Okla. - The Oklahoma Panhandle State University volleyball team played its first home contests of the 2019 season, hosting the OPSU Tri-Match at Anchor D Arena at Oscar Williams Fieldhouse. The Aggies (2-4) dropped their first match of the day to the University of the Southwest , 0-3 (23-25, 22-25, 20-25), before bouncing back to polish off Sterling, 3-1 (25-15, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21).
 
Each of the three teams in the tourney had 1-1 records in the Tri-Match.
 
"The first match we struggled a little bit," OPSU Head Coach Shelby Bartley said. "But we played well and had a lot of positive things come out of it. I think we took a lot of things we learned in the first match into the second match. We had a little 'pep talk' in the locker room and (the Aggies) came out firing. The team had a whole different level of energy and I'm super proud of them."
 
In the first match loss to USW, Panhandle never quite got on track, hitting just .105 for the three games. Keeley Johnston's five kills paced the team. Senior Kendra Butler added four kills and two blocks.
 
OPSU's Ruth Ard chipped in three kills and three solo blocks.
 
But it was a different story for the Aggies in the nightcap, in an impressive display over Sterling. Butler had a match-leading 14 kills and a .346 attack average, to go along with three blocks. Butler helped the Aggies improve to a .183 attack average versus the Warriors.
 
Hannah Murray and Johnston each had fine efforts against Sterling, booking eight kills apiece. Murray and Johnston also shone on defense with 14 and 11 digs, respectively. Newcomer Sydnee Saunders led all players with 19 digs. Murray also had two solo blocks.
 
Ard and Butler topped the Aggies with three solo blocks each.
 
Panhandle State will next be in action on Tuesday (Sept. 3) on the road for a non-conference contest at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. First serve in Bartlesville is at 6 p.m.