FORT WORTH, Texas — The Oklahoma Panhandle State volleyball team (15-14, 13-9 SAC) fell in three sets, 16-25, 23-25, 15-25, at Texas Wesleyan (23-6, 20-2) Saturday afternoon to conclude the regular season and wrap up the fifth seed heading into the Sooner Athletic Conference playoffs.
 
Despite the loss, OPSU's 13 wins in conference play tied its most ever as a member of the SAC as the Aggies turn their attention to postseason volleyball.
 
Saturday's match started on a positive note for Panhandle State, with Taylore Alsaid recording an ace and Elena Kagiali getting a kill as part of a 3-0 lead the Aggies took in set one.
 
The rest of the frame did not go OPSU's way, but the visitors played well to open the second set and take a 7-3 lead. TWU fought back as the sides exchanged slim leads through the rest of the set, but Panhandle State got itself back in front, ahead 22-21, following a late 3-0 run featuring kills from Mia Sanchez and Kagiali, plus an ace by Kagiali. The Rams took four of the set's final five points, however, and they cruised to a sweep.
 
Kagiali finished with 17 kills to lead all players in the match, while Ava Newby added seven kills.
 
Three Aggies – Alsaid, Sanchez and Winiffer Rodriguez – had 10 or more digs on the day, and six OPSU players notched a service ace.
 
What's up next: OPSU travels to play fourth-seeded Wayland Baptist (15-11, 14-8 SAC), whom the Aggies defeated twice in the regular season, on Tuesday evening in the opening round of the SAC Tournament.