The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 0 – South Dakota 3
Records: ORU (6-14, 3-5) – South Dakota (17-2, 6-1)
Location: Sanford Coyote Sports Center (Vermillion, S.D.)
 
VERMILLION, S.D. – Despite a double-double from Kalena Vaivai, the Oral Roberts volleyball team fell on the road in straight sets (15-25, 19-25, 16-25) to Summit League foe South Dakota Thursday evening inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

Vaivai registered her fifth double-double of the season as the senior dished out 19 assists and scooped up 12 Coyote attacks, both of which led the Golden Eagles.

South Dakota jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the opening set, forcing an ORU timeout. Following a Coyote service error out of the stoppage, South Dakota grew their lead to 15-2 courtesy of a 7-0 run. After a second ORU timeout, the Golden Eagles responded with a 5-0 stretch that cut the deficit to 17-8. ORU continued to battle as they drew within eight, 23-15, courtesy of a 4-0 run but it wasn't enough as the Coyotes took the opening set, 25-15.

The Golden Eagles opened the second stanza with a 4-0 run that was capped off by back-to-back aces from Vaivai. South Dakota responded with six of the next eight points to even the score at 6-6. With the score tied at 11-11, the Coyotes used a 6-1 run to take a 17-12 advantage. The stretch gave South Dakota all the cushion they needed as they claimed set two, 25-19.

In the third and final stanza, the Coyotes used a 7-1 run to take an 18-8 lead as they went on to win the set, 25-16, and the match.

Match Notes

• Thursday's match marked the 20th meeting all-time between ORU and South Dakota. 
• Vaivai's double-double was the 15th of her career.
• Kaia Dunford, Trinity Freeman and Sakira LaCour each registered six kills to lead the Golden Eagles.
• Natassia Baptiste and Dunford each recorded three blocks apiece to lead ORU.

Up Next
ORU remains on the road for a Summit League match against South Dakota State Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
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.