SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State volleyball team (2-7, 0-2 SAC) had John Brown (5-5, 1-1) on the ropes in the fifth set of a back-and-forth road conference battle before ultimately falling, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-25, 14-16.
 
Looking for its first win in the series matchup since 2021, OPSU shrugged off a slow start to the match and went blow for blow with the Golden Eagles, posting 16 kills – five from Ava Newby – in the opening set.
 
JBU snatched the early advantage with a pair of points to close the first frame, but the Aggies' attack continued to click with another 16 kills in the second set to draw even.
 
Tied 1-1 in the match, Panhandle State boasted a .333 hitting percentage in the third set to help it fight off a six-point run from the Golden Eagles. OPSU faced a 23-21 deficit late in the frame, yet Skyla Stark fueled a 4-0 run for the guests with a kill to help the Aggies take control, ahead 2-1.
 
After a tough fourth set, Panhandle State came out strong in the winner-take-all frame and needed just one point, up 14-11, in the fifth set to snap its losing skid, but JBU stole the victory.
 
Skyla Stark wrapped up an impressive weekend with a team-high 13 kills at a .333 clip, and the middle blocker added five block assists, a number that was matched by Emma Coburn.
 
Newby added 11 kills, while Elena Kagiali and Taylore Alsaid both notched kills-digs double-doubles, tallying 21 and 20 digs next to their names, respectively. Kagiali also had a team-high six block assists to lead the Aggies to 10 total blocks.
 
Mia Sanchez made it a trio of Aggies with double-doubles as she finished with 46 assists and 18 digs. Taylor Silva, too, was a major factor defensively with 19 digs.
 
As a team, OPSU posted more digs, kills and a higher hitting percentage than JBU, but struggles at the service line and in serve-receive swung the match in favor of the hosts.
 
What's up next: Panhandle State plays at home inside Anchor D Arena for the first time in 2025 when it welcomes Oklahoma City (3-5, 0-2 SAC) for a 6 p.m. match on Friday, Sept. 12.