The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 3 – Western Illinois 0
Records: ORU (6-13, 3-4) – Denver (4-16, 0-8)
Location: Cooper Aerobics Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
TULSA, Okla. – Behind Kaia Dunford's team-leading eighth double-double of the year, the Oral Roberts volleyball team snapped their four-match losing streak with a sweep (25-13, 25-20, 25-13) of Summit League foe Western Illinois Tuesday evening inside the Cooper Aerobics Center. 

Dunford registered 12 kills and 18 digs, both of which were match-highs, en route to her 19th career double-double. The junior's 18 digs were a career-high for a three-set match.

Sakira LaCour put together a strong offensive performance as the senior downed 11 kills on 21 swings for a .476 attack percentage. Bryanne Soares dished out a match-best 21 assists, while Kalena Vaivai added 13 to go along with three kills on three swings. At the net, Freeman recorded a match-best four blocks, while Kedron Burk and LaCour followed with three each.

With the score even at 6-6 in the opening set, the Golden Eagles used a 4-1 run to take a 10-7 advantage. ORU's lead later grew to 17-10 courtesy of another 4-1 stretch that was capped off by a Freeman kill. The Golden Eagles closed the set, 25-13, with a 7-1 run that was sparked by a LaCour kill and finished off by Dunford. 

WIU jumped out to an 8-1 advantage in the second stanza before a Freeman kill out of an ORU timeout stopped the bleeding. After the Golden Eagles battled back to within five, 12-7, Freeman sparked a 7-0 run with another kill as ORU jumped in front 13-12. The Golden Eagles' lead grew to as much as four, 18-14, before the Leathernecks got within one, 19-18, courtesy of a 4-1 surge. ORU responded with a 5-1 run as they went on to claim set two, 25-20.

Trailing 2-0 in the third and final set, the Golden Eagles rallied for seven straight points to take the lead, 7-2. ORU later closed the stanza on a 5-1 run as they claimed the set, 25-13, and the match.

Match Notes

• Tuesday's match marked the 51st meeting all-time between the Golden Eagles and Leathernecks.
• With the win, ORU is now 45-6 all-time against WIU and has won six straight meetings.
• At home, the Golden Eagles are now 23-2 all-time against the Leathernecks.
• ORU's .305 attack percentage was a season-high.
• The Golden Eagles set season-highs for a three-set match in kills (47), service aces (8), assists (43) digs (65) and blocks (7).
• Chloe Salcedo registered three consecutive service aces in the opening set.
• Dunford logged her eighth double-double of the year and the 19th of her career.
• LaCour recorded seven of her 11 kills in the opening set.
• Libero Breanna Rivas scooped up 14 Leatherneck attacks.

Up Next
ORU travels to Vermillion, South Dakota, Thursday, Oct. 13 to take on the Coyotes of South Dakota at 7 p.m.
 
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