Aggies Drop Heartbreaker at John Brown
September 6, 2025
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.
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.
