ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Oral Roberts University volleyball team
saw a 2-1 advantage disappear as New Mexico topped the Golden
Eagles 3-2 (25-30, 30-28, 35-33, 29-31, 10-15) in the night cap of
the Hilton Albuquerque Classic, late Friday night.
With the match tied at 2-2, ORU (3-5) had an 8-7 advantage in the
decisive game five before the Lobos (7-2) responded with a 8-2 run
to win the game 15-10 and take the match 3-2.
Rightside hitter Jackie Oliveria (Minas Gerais,
Brazil) paced the Golden Eagle offense with 23 kills, while outside
hitter Ori Zuzic (Porec, Croatia) added her fifth
double-double effort (16 kills, 13 digs) of the year.
New Mexico took game one 30-25 and looked to push their advantage
to 2-0 in game two before ORU responded to tie the game at 28-28. A
pair of back-to-back Golden Eagle blocks gave them a 30-28 win to
tie the match a one game a piece.
ORU again trailed in game three (24-20) before a pair of kills by
Zuzic and rightside hitter Nicole Wies
(Carrollton, Texas) sparked a 9-5 spurt that tied the game at
29-29. The score was tied again at 33-33 when middle blocker
Maja Devic (Split,Croaita) had a kill and a
service ace to claim a 35-33 win.
Ahead two games to one, the Golden Eagles had a two chances to
close out the match, but the Lobos refused to go quietly on their
home court. Game four was another seasaw affair with the teams
continuing to exchange the lead before knotting it up at 29-29. New
Mexico then got a kill and an ORU error for the 31-29 victory to
force the decisive game five.
Oliveria and Zuzic were just two of five Golden Eagles to register
double digit kills in the match, as middle blocker Kim
Snow (DeKalb, Ill.) had 12 markers and Weis chipped in
with 11 of her own. Devic had 15 kills while hitting a team-high
.448 (15-2-29).
Kelly Therkelsen led the Lobos with 21 kills and teammate Kim Cox
had a match-high 23 digs.
ORU will finish out play at the Hilton Albuquerque Classic when
they take on Delaware State in a 1:00 p.m. (central time) match on
Saturday afternoon.
-ORU-
