The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 0 – Wichita State 3
Records: ORU (0-2) – WSU (2-0)
Location: Hammons Student Center (Springfield, Mo.)
Box Score
 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team closed its first weekend on the court with a three-set loss to Wichita State (16-25, 18-25, 20-25) ending the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational at Missouri State.
 
ORU allowed the Shockers to score the first three points and fell behind 6-2 before a kill by Victoria Mayes provided a spark as the team fought back to make it a one-point deficit, 7-6. After Sakira LaCour put away a kill making it 9-8, WSU rattled off a 6-1 run to take control of the set and led by as many as 10 before taking the frame, 25-16.
 
Jaxie Wakley got the second set started with a kill for the Golden Eagles, only to see the Shockers post five-straight points. It was Wakley again that pulled ORU even serving up an ace to tie the stanza, 6-6, while Jeslyn Spencer provided a solo block and kill during the run. Back-to-back errors from WSU allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the set, 10-10, and following a Shockers run, Spencer buried another swing getting within two, 16-14. It was all WSU from there scoring seven of the next eight points and closed out the set, 25-18.
 
A kill by Sakira LaCour after a Shocker error helped ORU to a 2-1 lead opening set three, but WSU picked up the next three points to jump in front. Mayes delivered again hitting kills on consecutive points to tie the set, 5-5, and the Shockers again made a run building a four-point cushion, 11-7. Wakley gave ORU a kill and service ace to cut the deficit to two until WSU tallied seven of the next nine points for a comfortable edge and put away the match, 25-20.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Spencer led the Golden Eagles offensively totaling nine kills on 21 swings for a .333 hitting percentage and added six digs, a service ace and a solo block.
• Mayes was able to put away three kills on six swings in the opening set and finished with a career-best seven kills.
• Kaia Dunford registered seven kills and Wakley added five to go with her team-leading six service aces.
• Sarah Thiessen reached double-digit digs for the second-straight day totaling 11. Chloe Salcedo gave ORU eight digs and Bryanne Soares added seven.
• Sylvia Lawson recorded a team-best 13 set assists, while Soares and Thiessen added eight and six assists, respectively.
• After registering 11 blocks as a team Friday, the Golden Eagles combined for just two blocks Saturday.

Up Next
ORU is back in action opening The Summit League portion of the schedule at home facing North Dakota for two matches. The series starts Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. live on the ORU Sports Network from the Cooper Aerobics Center.
 
For the latest information on ORU Volleyball, follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.