GOODWELL, Okla. — A blazing start and gritty finish led the Oklahoma Panhandle State volleyball team (9-10, 7-5 SAC) to a 25-12, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, four-set victory at home Tuesday evening against Wayland Baptist (8-8, 7-5) as the second half of the conference schedule got underway.
 
Led by a career-high 30 kills from Elena Kagiali, the Aggies roared to 59 kills and a season-best .259 kill percentage in the match. Kagiali alone carried a .417 hitting percentage, committing just five attack errors in 60 swings. Skyla Stark was also dominant with 10 kills on just 25 attacks.
 
The effort added up to 56 assists for the Aggies, 47 of which were collected by Mia Sanchez.
 
While the OPSU attack was firing on all cylinders, the defense was also on point with 86 digs. Winiffer Rodriguez led all players in the match with a career-high 31 digs, helping fuel an especially strong defensive performance in the fourth set.
 
Panhandle State had everything working in the opening frame, embarking on three separate runs of at least five consecutive points. The momentum continued as it raced out to an 8-2 advantage in the second set en route to taking a 2-0 match lead.
 
WBU upped its game in the third set, and the Aggies could not quite respond as the rivals played on into set four.
 
Both teams recorded at least 30 digs in an entertaining fourth and final set, but it was the Aggies who strung together enough scoring runs to put the match to rest.
 
In her return from injury, Taylore Alsaid had 12 digs and two aces – one of three Aggies with two points from the service line (Sanchez, Kagiali). Sanchez and Kagiali also reached double-digit digs on the night, along with Nyah Ulmer, who had 15 digs, three assists and an ace.
 
Emma Coburn led Panhandle State at the net with three total blocks.
 
The victory clinched a season sweep for the Aggies over the Pioneers, which crucially gives the hosts the edge as they moved up to fourth place in the conference standings.
 
What's up next: OPSU rounds out its five-match homestand this weekend, beginning with a Friday evening contest versus John Brown (8-11, 4-7 SAC).