The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 3 – Southern Illinois 1
Records: ORU (6-0) – SIU (3-3)
Box Score
Location: Banterra Center (Carbondale, Ill.)
 
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Another perfect weekend is in the books as the Oral Roberts volleyball remains unbeaten to start the 2021 season after shutting down host Southern Illinois (19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22) Saturday to close the Saluki Bash.
 
After dropping the opening set, the Golden Eagles were not going to be denied their sixth-consecutive victory as their offense took charge having four players reach double-digit kills.
 
The match started with the teams going back-and-forth before SIU scored three-straight for an 11-8 edge. The Golden Eagles fought back to even the frame, 12-12, but the home side used a 7-0 run to break things open and held off a late rally by ORU, 25-19.
 
The second set belonged to the Golden Eagles scoring five of the first six points and forcing the Salukis into a timeout. That surge did not stop at the break in action as Bryanne Soares served up an ace and Sakira LaCour buried a middle set for an 8-2 cushion. SIU pulled within one, 14-13, only to see the visitors' offense catch fire behind a 6-0 burst and close the stanza, 25-16, hitting .323 in the frame.
 
ORU never trailed in the third set after the first point went to SIU as LaCour, Trinity Freeman and Kaia Dunford combined for four-consecutive kills getting off to a 4-1 start. After the Salukis climbed back to even the frame five different times, the Golden Eagles capitalized on a 3-0 run capped on a LaCour and Freeman block for a 15-12 edge. The fight never left ORU as it held off any chance of a comeback bid by the Salukis winning the set, 25-20.
 
It was SIU that jumped to an early 6-2 advantage in the fourth set until the Golden Eagles chipped away and tied the frame, 9-9. ORU fought off a mini run by the host and broke through on a 6-2 stretch for a 23-18 lead and ended on a LaCour hammer burying an over-pass to secure the perfect weekend, 25-22.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The middles shined for ORU as Wakley and LaCour combined for 24 kills. Wakley could not be stopped as the sophomore put away 13 kills on 19 swings for a .526 hitting percentage and added five block assists. LaCour ended with 11 kills, dropping in double-digit kills for the third-straight match, and four block assists.
• Dunford and Freeman aided the offense by posting 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Dunford completed her third double-double of the season chipping in 12 digs, while Freeman was dominant at the net recording a career-best seven block assists.
• Bryanne Soares kept the Salukis defense off balance leading to open looks for her hitters posting 43 set assists. She finished with 10 digs for her first double-double effort this year and led ORU hitting four service aces.
• Libero Sarah Thiessen was able to turn away nearly every SIU attack as the redshirt senior registered 21 digs reaching 20 or more for the fourth time this season.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles are back on the court Sept. 10-11, much closer to home, taking part in the Tulsa Invitational at the Reynolds Center starting Friday at 10 a.m. against Arkansas.
 
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.