Women's Volleyball | 9/6/2019 8:50:00 PM
GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University's volleyball team opened the Sooner Athletic Conference portion of its season on the right foot, with a 3-0 sweep over University of Science and Arts-Oklahoma (USAO) at Anchor D Arena at Oscar Williams Field House. The Aggies (4-4, 1-0 SAC) won the contest by set scores of 25-13, 25-11, 26-24 over the Drovers (0-2, 0-1 SAC).
It was also the second-consecutive match in which the Aggies have swept their opponent (also winning 3-0 at Oklahoma Wesleyan earlier in the week).
The first two sets were all Panhandle from the outset of each. In set one, OPSU led wire-to-wire. Leading 13-9, the Aggies utilized a nice run by
Richelle Carroll to extend its advantage. Carroll notched a kill to make it 14-9 and served on three subsequent winning points as OPSU bolted ahead, 17-9, and extinguish any hopes by USAO of a comeback.
It was a similar situation in set two, as Panhandle led from the outset and then utilized a big run to put the set out of reach. This time it was
Keeley Johnston who provided the mid-set fireworks. A solo block by
Kendra Butler made the score 16-9 and got the serve back to the Aggies. Johnston reeled off five-straight winning serves, as the hosts inflated their cushion to 21-9. OPSU close out the set on 4-2 run to finish the set.
The third set, however, caused some early heartburn for Aggie Head Coach
Shelby Bartley. The two clubs see-sawed in the lead early. With 8-8 on the scoreboard, the Drovers went on a tear and built a 17-11 lead. Panhandle caught USAO at 21-21, only to see the guests sitting on set point and up by three, 24-21.
But the resilient Aggies would stun the Drovers by putting up five unanswered points for the comeback win in set three. Carroll and
Tessa Francoise had back-to-back kills to draw OPSU to within one. A USAO attack error knotted matters at 24-24. Another kill by Carroll brought match point for the Aggies. With Butler serving, Carroll and
Bethani Cobb assisted on a block that gave Panhandle State the SAC victory.
Carroll finished the evening with a solid all-around effort of five kills, an ace, nine digs and two blocks.
Hannah Murray had a match-high total of nine kills and a .438 attack average.
Butler tallied five kills, while teammates
Ruth Ard, Skyler Cleavinger and
Katelyn Faulk had four kills, apiece. Ard had two solo blocks, as well.
Johnston had 30 assists and five aces on her ledger.
Ashley Sanchez led the back row with ten digs and
Sydnee Saunders made eight digs.
Panhandle State will play another SAC bout on Saturday (Sept. 7) afternoon versus Mid-America Christian University, with a 1 p.m. start time.
