Box Score
THIBODAUX, La. -
Oral Roberts University powered past Nicholls State on Saturday,
3-1, to secure their second straight victory. The win moves ORU
(10-12, 6-5 Southland Conference) over .500 in SLC play for the
first time this season.
The Golden Eagles knocked off Nicholls by scores of 25-18, 25-18,
14-25 and 25-13.
The victory, combined with a 3-0 sweep on September 22, gives ORU a
season sweep over Nicholls (9-14, 4-8 SLC).
A mix of youth and experience led the Golden Eagles on Saturday, as
freshman Sadie Schaffner and senior Sheina Fernandes tallied 11 kills each to lead ORU.
Senior Shelby Robb played the best game of her career in the
win, tallying a personal-best seven kills at a .412 clip.
Bruna Silva had 20 digs to lead the defensive
charge, while Laura Taylor collected her sixth double-double of the
season with 14 digs and 36 assists.
As a team, ORU tallied 49 kills and hit .192, while Nicholls had 41
kills and hit .127.
The Colonels were led by 11 kills each by Jessica Addicks and
Jennifer Brandt, while Nancy Taylor had a team-best 17 digs.
ORU spotted the home team a 3-0 lead in the opening set but came
back to take a 5-4 lead on back-to-back Nicholls errors. A combined
block by Jessica Pancratz and Joana Gruber made the lead 15-10, and ORU went on to
win the set by a 25-18 count.
The road team dominated the second set right away, taking an 11-5
lead on a Fernandes kill. Later, another Fernandes blast capped a
4-0 run that stretched the lead to 15-7. Schaffner clinched the set
with a kill of her own, giving ORU a 25-18 win.
Nicholls experienced their only success in the third set, using a
6-0 run to take a 16-7 lead. ORU never rallied, and a kill from
Addicks gave the Colonels a 25-14 win.
The loss was an inconsequential setback for Sheera Sirola's team, as they dominated the fourth
set. A Kylie Johnson kill capped a five-point run to give
ORU an 8-3 lead, but the Colonels managed to stay within striking
distance until late in the set. That's when a Robb kill jumpstarted
a match-closing 9-1 run, leading to a 25-13 ORU win. ORU hit .394
in the final set.
Pancratz led ORU with seven block assists, while Johnson matched a
career high with three service aces.
ORU heads home this week to play three home contests in a five-day
stretch. The home series kicks off on Tuesday, October 23 with a
return trip from Central Arkansas. Match time is booked for 7 pm CT
at the Kenneth H. Cooper Aerobics Center, and live video coverage
is available at ORUGoldenEagles.com.