The Basics
Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational
Oral Roberts (0-0) vs. Central Arkansas (0-0) | Oral Roberts (0-0) vs.Tennessee Tech (0-0) | Oral Roberts (0-0) at Missouri State (0-0)
Dates: August 26-28
Location: Hammons Student Center / Springfield, Mo.
Live Video: None | Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team opens their 2022 campaign at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational August 26-28 at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Missouri. ORU will face off against Central Arkansas on Friday at 4 p.m., followed by Tennessee Tech on Saturday at noon and the tournament host, Missouri State, on Sunday at 1 p.m..

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Missouri State Notes
Summit League Notes

Opening Serve
• The Golden Eagles enter the 2022 season fresh off their best finish since 2016 after recording an 18-11 mark in 2021. ORU is in search of their first NCAA postseason appearance since 2006 and 10th overall.

• In the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Golden Eagles were selected to finish fourth, garnering 53 votes. Middle blocker Sakira LaCour and outside hitter Trinity Freeman were selected as the Preseason Players to Watch for the Golden Eagles as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches. In 2021, LaCour was a First Team All-Summit League performer, while Freeman was named to the All-Freshman Team. 

• Head Coach Frank Craig III enters his third season at the helm of the Golden Eagles and returns nine letterwinners from a season ago. In the offseason, Craig welcomed freshmen Kyla Randall, Kedron Burk, Natassia Baptiste and Serena Kohler to the roster, along with Utah State transfer Kalena Vaivai.

• Freeman and LaCour headline the list of returners for ORU as the two combined for 548 kills and 220 blocks a season ago. Freeman led the Golden Eagles with 285 kills in her freshman campaign and tallied double-digit kills 13 different times. LaCour's 263 kills trailed only Freeman on the squad, while her 141 blocks ranked first among the Summit League and 22nd nationally.

• Setter Bryanne Soares returns as the facilitator of the Golden Eagle offense after tallying a team-best 1,007 assists in 2021.

• As a squad last season, ORU topped the Summit League in blocks (257.5) and blocks per set (2.43). ORU also ranked inside the top 3 in the league in hitting percentage (.245), kills per set (13.33) and opponent hitting percentage (.185).

Inside the Matchup: Central Arkansas
• Friday's contest marks the 14th meeting all-time between the Golden Eagles and the Sugar Bears, and the first since 2019. ORU trails the all-time series with a 6-7 record against the Sugar Bears.

• UCA is coming off a 7-18 season in 2021 and is led by Head Coach John Newberry.

Inside the Matchup: Tennessee Tech
• On Saturday, ORU faces off against Tennessee Tech for only the second time in program history. Tennessee Tech claimed the first meeting back in 1993 with a sweep.

• The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and are led by preseason all-conference members Taylor Dorsey (MB) and Madolyn Isringhausen (OH).

Inside the Matchup: Missouri State
• The Golden Eagles and Bears will meet for the 41st time on Sunday. The two squads last met on January 22, 2021, which saw the Bears take a 3-1 victory.

• In the Missouri Valley Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Bears were selected to finish seventh after finishing with a 17-13 record in 2021. Missouri State returns four starters, plus the libero, from last year's squad and are led by third-year head coach Steven McRoberts.
 
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.