GOODWELL, Okla. - The young Oklahoma Panhandle State University volleyball team pushed Sooner Athletic Conference leader Oklahoma City University to the brink, before eventually dropping a 3-2 decision at Anchor D Arena. The Aggies (9-6, 4-5 SAC) lost to the Stars (9-2, 9-0 SAC) by set scores of 25-27, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 11-15.
OCU looked like it might the sweep early after winning the first two sets. But the resilient Panhandle team fought back hard in the next two sets, including posting a .349 attack average in the fourth.
The Aggies'
Essence West had a match-leading 18 kills and a .170 attack average in 47 attempts. She also made 14 digs to bolster the Aggie defense.
Freshman
Ana Pimenta rolled up 14 kills and four blocks, to go along with an ace and four digs. Sophomore
Sydnee Saunders also had double-digit kills at 10 and a pair of blocks.
Ashley Sanchez had a match-high 21 digs.
OPSU setters
Lesly Galarza and
Celenia Toribio had 27 and 17 assists, respectively. Galarza chipped in nine digs, as well.
Ebony Dykes had five blocks for Panhandle, with
Eduarda Souza blocking three. As a team, OPSU had 9.0 blocks.
Souza had the best attack average on the evening, hitting .429 in 14 tries. She had seven kills to her credit.
