The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 0 – Omaha 3
Records: ORU (5-12, 2-3) – Omaha (9-7, 4-2)
Location: Cooper Aerobics Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped their third straight match as they fell in straight sets (18-25, 21-25, 24-26) to Summit League foe Omaha Thursday evening inside the Cooper Aerobics Center.

Outside hitter Kaia Dunford topped the Golden Eagles in kills with 11 followed by Trinity Freeman with seven. At the net, Natassia Baptiste registered four blocks, while Freeman and Jeslyn Spencer each contributed three apiece. 

Bryanne Soares logged her third double-double of the year and first since August 28 as the junior dished out 17 assists and scooped up a team-best 11 Omaha attacks.

It was a back-and-forth start to the opening set as the two sides traded the first 20 points before Omaha used an 11-2 run to take a 21-12 lead. A Sakira LaCour kill put an end to the run and sparked a 6-2 stretch for ORU as they trimmed the deficit to 23-18. Back-to-back kills by the Mavericks put an end to the set as Omaha won 25-18.

With the score even at 4-4, the Mavericks used a 6-0 run to claim a 10-4 advantage before LaCour stopped the bleeding with her second kill of the match. ORU attempted to rally with a 5-0 stretch that cut the Omaha lead to 23-20. The Mavericks responded with two of the final three points to take set two, 25-21.

In the final set, Freeman and Baptiste sparked an 8-3 start for the Golden Eagles with a double block. After Omaha trimmed the lead to two, 9-7, Dunford sparked a 6-0 run with her eighth kill of the contest as ORU stretched their advantage to 15-7. With the Golden Eagles leading 22-17, Omaha totaled five straight points to even the score at 22-22. After the Golden Eagles jumped back in front, 24-23, the Mavericks answered with the final three points to claim the set, 26-24, and the match. 


Match Notes

• Thursday's contest marked the 22nd meeting all-time between the Golden Eagles and Mavericks.
• With the loss, ORU has now lost seven straight to Omaha.
• With two blocks in the contest, LaCour is now in sole possession of 10th place all-time in program history with 309.
• Soares double-double was the 23rd of her career.
• As a team, ORU totaled nine blocks to Omaha's eight in the contest.

Up Next
ORU continues their three-match homestand Saturday, October 8 against Denver at 1 p.m. inside the Cooper Aerobics Center.
 
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