The Basics
Score: Kansas City 1 – Oral Roberts 3
Records: KC (17-9, 8-6 SL) – ORU (15-8, 9-5 SL)
Box Score
Location: Cooper Aerobics Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
TULSA, Okla. – It was a complete, team effort Saturday as the Oral Roberts volleyball team took down Kansas City at home in four sets (25-21, 25-23, 12-25, 25-20) from the Cooper Aerobics Center. Six players registered at least six kills, while six players also found a way into the blocking column as the Golden Eagles claimed sole possession of fourth place in The Summit League standings over the Roos.
 
The offense of both teams shined in the early stages of the opening set and the Roos held a slim advantage, 8-6. It was a 10-2 run for ORU that turned the two-point deficit into a six-point lead, 16-10, and forced the visitors into using both of their timeouts. KC responded out of the break scoring the next three points and cut the margin to 18-16 before a Jaxie Wakley kill stopped the rally. A kill from Aixa Vigil followed by a Vigil and Sakira LaCour block sparked the Golden Eagles down the stretch and a Kaia Dunford tool off the block ended the frame, 25-21.
 
Bryanne Soares showed off her attacking prowess in the second stanza putting away four of ORU's first eight points from her setter position. After the score was tied seven times on the way to an 8-8 deadlock, KC rattled off four-straight points for a 12-8 cushion until a kill from Trinity Freeman. The Roos stretched their lead to five, 16-11, but the Golden Eagles chipped away tallying the next four points thanks to back-to-back kills from Vigil to pull within one. KC regained a four-point edge, 19-15, only to have Chloe Salcedo serve ORU in front as she pushed the Roos out of system and into three attack errors during a 6-0 burst. It took consecutive swings by LaCour and Freeman to give the Golden Eagles the set win, 25-23. The visitors took command of the third set building a 9-3 advantage with three service aces before ORU called timeout. KC continued to pressure and moved ahead, 17-7, before running away to remain in the match, 25-12.
 
In set four, a pair of Wakley kills evened the score, 5-5, but the Roos pushed out to a 9-6 lead. The Golden Eagles were not deterred and turned to their defense on the way to a 12-10 advantage as LaCour and Vigil combined to block three-consecutive points. ORU capitalized on a 5-2 burst getting kills from Dunford and Soares for a 19-15 cushion and maintained a three-point edge, 20-17, as Vigil added a kill. The Golden Eagles turned to LaCour in the middle for an easy swing and got a Roos attack error to hold a 23-20 lead and closed the match, 25-20, as LaCour and Freeman found the floor on the final two points.
 
Inside the Box Score

• LaCour nearly completed a double-double as she finished with 12 kills and nine block assists. The junior led ORU behind a .346 hitting percentage making the most of her 26 swings.
• Vigil joined LaCour in double figures offensively totaling 11 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double performance. She also aided the defense putting away a career-best six block assists.
• Dunford closed the afternoon with nine kills and nine digs, while Freeman added eight kills and three block assists.
• Soares was on a mission Saturday posting a 38-set assist, 11-dig double-double and also buried six attacks.
• Sarah Thiessen paced the Golden Eagles with 17 digs and had five set assists.
• ORU dominated the net battle holding a 13-7 edge in blocks, including a 9-2 advantage over the final two sets. Wakley recorded both of the team's solo blocks to go with two block assists.

 
Up Next
ORU continues its five-match home stretch Nov. 11 hosting the Fighting Leathernecks of Western Illinois. Catch the action live from the Aerobics Center or streaming on the ORU Sports Network at 7 p.m.
 
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