TULSA, Okla. - The Oral Roberts University volleyball team (4-1) beat cross-town rival Tulsa (3-1) in five sets in the first match of the ORU Classic Thursday evening. The Golden Eagles won sets one and two, 25-20 in both sets before losing the next two sets 21-25 and 20-25. ORU came back to win set five 15-8 and pick up the win.

Senior outside hitter Danijela Novakovic led the Golden Eagles with 13 kills and hit .308, while senior rightside hitter Jackie Oliveira (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and senior middle blocker JoJo Souza (Sao Paulo, Brazil) registered 12 kills each. Oliveira also recorded eight digs and three block assists while Souza hit .391 and tallied six digs. Senior setter Thais Parada (Sao Paulo, Brazil) added 44 assists and four service aces.

ORU hit .273 compared to Tulsa's .212, while both teams tied with 56 kills and eight service aces. ORU recorded 38 digs while TU tallied 34 and the Golden Eagles had 12 total blocks and Tulsa had nine.

The Hurricanes were led by freshman outside hitter Jennifer Eichler and outside hitter Beth Hodge who both recorded 14 kills, as Eichler hit .423. Sophomore setter Jessie Ayers registered 39 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore middle hitter Hannah Stout hit .500 and added six kills, while junior middle hitter Julia Kenealy also tallied six kills for Tulsa.

The Golden Eagles continue action in the ORU Classic Friday at 7 p.m. against Fordham and then wrap up the Classic against North Texas Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

-ORU-