The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 3 – Western Illinois 2
Records: ORU (2-4, 2-2 SL) – WIU (0-5, 0-4 SL)
Location: Western Hall (Macomb, Ill.)
Box Score
 
MACOMB, Ill. – It took five sets before the Oral Roberts volleyball team rallied to take down Western Illinois (18-25, 25-19, 14-25, 25-22, 15-13) Monday afternoon to complete the series sweep at Western Hall and even its record in Summit League play.
 
The Golden Eagles battled to an even start until the Fighting Leathernecks broke a 4-4 tie scoring the next three points and continued to lead 10-8. WIU used a 7-1 run taking control of the opening set as ORU could only close the gap to 19-15 before falling 25-18 in the frame, despite 15 digs from Sarah Thiessen.
 
ORU erased the memory of the slow start and jumped to an 8-3 lead in set two forcing WIU into a timeout. The home side battled back and pulled within one, 10-9, before the Golden Eagles won a long rally to stop the momentum and stretched the margin to 16-10 on a service ace by Sakira LaCour. A 5-1 burst by WIU cut ORU's advantage to two, but the visitors were able to get back-to-back points from Aixa Vigil and Morgan Blomquist for a four-point cushion and secured the set, 25-19, getting the final four points.
 
After coming back to even the match, the third frame belonged to the Fighting Leathernecks behind a 4-0 run early for an 8-4 edge. The Golden Eagles fought back to close the gap to 11-9 on kills from LaCour and Jaxie Wakley, but WIU posted a 13-3 stretch and won the set, 25-14.
 
ORU jumped out to a 3-1 advantage in the fourth set and overcame a one-point deficit to lead 10-7 using a 5-1 run. The Fighting Leathernecks hung around and were able to move in front, 18-17, but the Golden Eagles scored five of the next six points for a 22-19 edge and evened the match winning the set, 25-22.
 
WIU opened the final frame holding a 5-3 lead before ORU rattled off three-straight points to retake the lead. The action went back and forth with four tie scores until a home attack error was followed by a Wakley kill giving the Golden Eagles a 13-11 advantage. ORU secured its second-straight victory, 15-13, hitting .471 in the final set.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Thiessen was all over the court defensively as the redshirt junior tallied a career-best 36 digs, the most by a Summit League player this season and the fifth most in the NCAA. On the day, the Golden Eagles totaled a season-high 105 digs reaching 100 or more for the second time this year.
• ORU had three players record a double-double led by Vigil's 16 kills and 13 digs. The junior also paced the team with a .310 hitting percentage getting her kills on 42 swings with just three errors.
• Kaia Dunford was effective on the defensive end posting 25 digs and added 10 kills for her first collegiate double-double.
• Jeslyn Spencer finished off her second double-double of the season totaling 10 kills and 10 digs.
• Wakley equaled her season best from Sunday putting away 12 kills to go with a team-leading three block assists.
• LaCour matched her season high with five kills and came up clutch serving a career-best two aces as the Golden Eagles registered six.
• Bryanne Soares led ORU with 35 set assists, her most this season, while Sylvia Lawson contributed 11 and Thiessen had seven.

 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles are back on the road for their next action heading to North Dakota State to battle the Bison Feb. 14 and 15.
 
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