The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 1 – Kansas City 3
Records: ORU (3-20, 1-10) – Kansas City (17-6, 8-3)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Okla.)

TULSA, Okla. – Despite double-doubles from Trinity Freeman and Thaynara de Jesus, the Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match to Kansas City in four sets (23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25) Saturday afternoon inside the Mabee Center. 

Freeman topped the Golden Eagles in kills for the 17th time in the last 18 matches after logging 19 on the afternoon. The junior also scooped up 12 Roo attacks for her team-leading seventh double-double of the season. de Jesus followed with 11 kills and 15 digs for her second double-double of the year. 

Setter Kalena Vaivai orchestrated the offensive attack as the senior dished out 42 assists. The Wailuku, Hawaii, native also logged five digs, four kills, three blocks and two service aces in the match.

On the backrow, libero Chloe Salcedo totaled a career-high and match-best 20 digs on the day. Defensive specialist Alaina Larson chipped in with nine digs and a match-high four service aces. At the net, Natassia Baptiste matched Vaivai with a team-best three blocks. 

With the score even at 3-3 in the opening set, the Golden Eagles rattled off five of the next six points to take an 8-4 lead. The Roos responded with the next four points to even the set at 8-8. Kansas City later used a 5-1 run to take a 17-13 lead. After ORU evened the set at 23-23 behind a 4-0 stretch, the Roos answered with the next two points to take game one, 25-23. 

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 9-3 advantage in the second before Kansas City answered with an 8-1 run to take an 11-10 lead. After the Roos opened a 21-18 lead, ORU responded with three straight points to even the set at 21-21 and force a Kansas City timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Roos recorded four of the next five points to claim the second set, 25-22. 

In the third, the two sides alternated the first 20 points before the Roos used a 7-2 run to take a 17-12 advantage. The Golden Eagles answered with eight of the next 11 points to jump back in front, 20-19, forcing a Kansas City timeout. Out of the stoppage, ORU logged five of the final nine points to take the third set, 25-23. 

The Roos raced out to a 5-1 start in the fourth before the Golden Eagles battled back to within one, 6-5. Trailing 8-5, ORU rattled off a 9-2 run to jump in front 14-10. With the Golden Eagles leading 18-14, the Roos closed the set on an 11-1 run to claim the match. 

Match Notes

• Freeman led the Golden Eagles in kills for the 20th time this season.
• The junior's 15-plus kill performance was her eighth of the year.
• Freeman's double-double marked the 10th of her career.
• de Jesus logged double-digit kills for the fourth time this season.
• Vaivai registered 40-plus assists for the fifth time in her career.
• Middle blocker Jaxie Wakley contributed with eight kills and a .313 attack percentage. 
• As a team, ORU logged seven service aces and five blocks.

Up Next
ORU concludes its three-game homestand with Denver on Thursday, November 2 at 5 p.m.
 
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