The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 1 – Illinois State 3
Records: ORU (2-2) – Illinois State (2-2)
Location: Redbird Arena (Normal, Ill.)
 
NORMAL, Ill. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped their opening match of the Redbird Classic in four sets (16-25, 13-25, 25-23, 12-25) to Illinois State Friday morning inside Redbird Arena.
 
For the fourth straight contest, Trinity Freeman led the charge offensively for the Golden Eagles as the sophomore finished with nine kills. Setter Bryanne Soares dished out a team-best 19 assists, while Kalena Vaivai added 12.
 
At the net, Sakira LaCour totaled seven blocks, three of which were solos. Kaia Dunford and Natassia Baptiste each contributed with three blocks apiece.
 
After facing an early 8-2 deficit in the first set, the Golden Eagles rallied for five straight points to draw within one, 8-7. With score in favor of the Redbirds, 15-12, Illinois State took full command of the set with a 7-0 run. ORU responded with back-to-back points to halt the surge but it wasn't enough as Illinois State took set one, 25-16.
 
A double block from Dunford and Baptiste gave ORU the opening point of the second set. With the score level at 2-2, Illinois State rattled off four straight points to take the lead for good. The Redbirds used a 7-1 run to close out the second stanza, 25-13.
 
Leading 7-5 in the third, ORU used a 6-1 run that was sparked by a Jeslyn Spencer kill to open a 13-6 advantage. A 4-0 spurt by the Redbirds cut the Golden Eagles' lead to one, 20-19. The two sides traded the final nine points of the set with ORU coming out on top, 25-23, courtesy of a double block from LaCour and Serena Kohler.
 
In the fourth, the Redbirds used two 5-0 runs to take full command as they went on to win the set, 25-12, and the match.
 
Match Notes

• Friday's contest marked the sixth meeting all-time between the Golden Eagles and Redbirds.
• The all-time series record is now tied 3-3.
• Freeman led the Golden Eagles in kills for the fourth time this season and the 10th time of her career.
• LaCour registered at least seven blocks for the third time this season.
• Kyla Randall made her first collegiate appearance at the libero position.
• Kohler registered her first collegiate kill in the match, finishing with three overall.

 
The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 2 – SEMO 3
Records: ORU (2-3) – SEMO (3-2)
Location: Redbird Arena (Normal, Ill.)
 
NORMAL, Ill. – Despite a career-high tying 19 kills from Trinity Freeman, the Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five-set (20-25, 25-22, 12-25, 25-12, 9-15) battle to Southeast Missouri State on Friday evening inside Redbird Arena.
 
Kaia Dunford joined Freeman as the only other Golden Eagle with double-digit kills on the night as the junior finished with 10. The Waimanalo, Hawaii, native also tallied 14 digs for her second double-double of the year. Bryanne Soares helped facilitate the ORU attack with a game-high 37 assists.
 
Defensively, freshman Kyla Randall scooped up a team-high and season-best 16 attacks. Fellow freshman Kedron Burk topped the Golden Eagles in blocks with four.
 
After a back-and-forth start that saw the two squads trade the opening 12 points, the Redhawks used a 6-0 run to take a 12-6 lead. The Golden Eagles responded with a 5-0 stretch of their own to draw back to within three, 22-19. SEMO closed out the set with three of the final four points to take the opening game, 25-20.
 
Trailing 5-1 at the start of the second stanza, ORU drew within one, 6-5, courtesy of a 4-1 stretch. After the Redhawks extended their lead back to four, 18-14, the Golden Eagles used a 7-1 run to jump in front, 21-19. Sakira LaCour finished off a 25-22 set two win for ORU with her third kill of the match.
 
In the third, SEMO established control early with the opening seven points of the set. The Golden Eagles were never able to recover as the third stanza went to the Redhawks, 25-12.
 
ORU flipped the script in the fourth and tallied the first six points. During the run, the Golden Eagles capitalized on four Redhawk attack errors. ORU pulled away for good in the set with an 11-2 run as they forced a decisive fifth game with a 25-12 win. A Soares and LaCour block started the run, while Dunford and Burk finished it off with a double block of their own.
 
After the Golden Eagles cut the Redhawks lead to one, 7-6, SEMO broke the game open with a 6-0 run. ORU answered with the next two points to stop the bleeding but it wasn't enough as SEMO claimed the fifth set, 15-9, and the match.
 
Match Notes

• Despite the loss, ORU still leads the all-time series against SEMO, 3-1.
• Dunford's double-double was her second of the season and 13th of her career.
• LaCour totaled two service aces, matching her season-high.
• Soares registered at least 30 assists for the second time this season and the 19th time in her career.
• Freeman has now led the Golden Eagles in kills in all five matches and 11 times in her career.
• As a team, the Golden Eagles registered 57 kills to the Redhawks 47.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles conclude the Redbird Classic with a matchup against Green Bay on Saturday at noon.
 
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