Women's Volleyball | 9/27/2019 9:47:00 PM

 
GOODWELL, Okla. - In a battle of teams tied for sixth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings entering the evening, Oklahoma Panhandle State University's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The Aggies (6-8, 3-4 SAC) lost to the Lions (10-3, 4-3 SAC) by scores of 16-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-25 at Anchor D Arena at Oscar Williams Field House.
 
Set one was tied at 7-7 when the Lions outscored Panhandle by an 11-2 run to open up a big lead, 18-9. OPSU's biggest run down the stretch was three-straight points to draw to within 21-13, but SAGU would close out matters, 25-16.
 
Set two looked to be headed in a similar direction for Panhandle State, as the Lions roared out to a 10-4 lead early. But the resilient Aggies began to chip away at the SAGU lead, evening things at 11-11 on a kill by Richelle Carroll, following a pair of kills by Ruth Ard and an ace from Sydnee Saunders. With the score knotted at 12-12, OPSU got a pair of kills from Keeley Johnston and sophomore libero Ashley Sanchez served up two more winning points as Panhandle went up 15-12. The Aggies found themselves on the ropes once again with the Lions up 21-18, only to outdistance SAGU by an 8-3 margin to close the match and win, 26-24.
 
In set three, the Aggies were never able to wrest the lead from SAGU in the close 25-22 loss. Panhandle scored the first point of set four, only to see the Lions never trail again in the set on their way to a 25-15 win.
 
Carroll and Saunders had 10 kills each to lead the Aggies. Kendra Butler added seven kills and had three blocks. Ard booked six kills, as well as two solo blocks. Saunders also chipped in two of the team's four aces.
 
Johnston had 30 assists to her credit. Sanchez had 16 digs from her back row position.
 
The Aggies will be at home Saturday (Sept. 28) afternoon for a 1 p.m. match versus Texas Wesleyan University.