GOODWELL, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State volleyball team (8-9, 6-4 SAC) used a historically superb night from the service line to outlast Mid-America Christian (10-7, 6-4) at home Friday night to pick up a crucial Sooner Athletic Conference victory, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21.
 
The advantage tipped in OPSU's favor in large part due to 16 service aces from the hosts. Those 16 aces marked the Aggies' most in a match since Oct. 20, 2023, at Southwestern Christian, and it is the most Mid-America Christian has surrendered in a four-set match since it joined the SAC in 2007 (per MACU's sports information department).
 
Taylor Silva tied her career high with five aces, while Emma Coburn, Winiffer Rodriguez and Elena Kagiali added three apiece – good enough to tie season highs for Coburn and Rodriguez. Nyah Ulmer rounded out the dominant performance with two aces herself.
 
The Aggies and Evangels battled from the opening serve as the teams played an abundance of long rallies, leading to over 50 digs combined in just the first set.
 
Panhandle State fended off three separate runs of at least three points by MACU in that opening frame, responding with a late 3-0 run of its own to steal the set, 25-23.
 
The Evangels took a commanding 17-9 advantage midway through the second set, and a determined OPSU comeback fell short as the match headed to the third set knotted, 1-1.
 
The third set was neck-and-neck nearly all the way when consecutive aces from Coburn gave momentum to Panhandle State. A string of kills ensued by Stark and Kagiali, before Rodriguez and Mia Sanchez put the set away with another ace and kill, respectively.
 
After falling behind 6-3 early in the fourth set, Silva notched a kill and scored three straight service aces to help give the Aggies an 8-6 advantage, and MACU never retook the lead.
 
Friday's match featured a total of 168 digs (83 from the hosts), with Rodriguez leading the Aggies in the category with 23. Silva, Kagiali and Sanchez also had double figures in digs.
 
Kagiali secured a team-best 16 kills, and Sanchez notched 37 assists.
 
OPSU held a convincing advantage in team blocks, 9-1, as Coburn and Brenna Moore finished with five and three rejections, respectively.
 
What's up next: OPSU looks to keep rolling as it continues a five-game home stretch on Saturday at 1 p.m. to face the University of Science & Arts (11-8, 5-5 SAC).