The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 3 – St. Thomas 1
Records: ORU (3-14, 1-4) – St. Thomas (4-12, 0-5)
Location: Schoenecker Arena (St. Paul, Minn.)

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Behind double-doubles from Trinity Freeman, Kalena Vaivai and Shelbi Steen, the Oral Roberts volleyball team registered its first Summit League win of 2023 with a four-set victory (16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 28-26) at St Thomas Saturday afternoon inside Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Freeman and Thaynara de Jesus paced the offensive attack for the Golden Eagles as the duo registered a match-high 15 kills each. Freeman, who has now led ORU in kills in 12 straight matches, also scooped up a team-high tying 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Steen rounded out the double-digit kill performers for the Golden Eagles as the junior logged 12 to go along with 10 digs for her first double-double of the year. 

Vaivai orchestrated the ORU attack as the senior dished out a season-high tying and match-best 44 assists. The Wailuku, Hawaii, native also registered 12 digs on the afternoon for her second straight double-double and fifth of the year. 

On the backrow, libero Breanna Rivas matched Freeman for the team lead in digs as the junior racked up 15 on the day. Defensive specialist Alaina Larson matched her career-high with 10 digs in the contest and also recorded a team-high tying two service aces. At the net, Natassia Baptiste recorded a season-high and match-best six blocks, while Kedron Burk followed with five. 

In the opening set, the two sides traded the first six points before the Tommies used a 6-0 run to take a 9-3 advantage. After ORU rattled off four straight points to pull within two, 9-7, St. Thomas responded with nine of the next 11 to push its lead to nine, 18-9. That stretch gave the Tommies all the cushion they needed as they went on to take the first set, 25-16.
 
In a back-and-forth second set, the two squads exchanged the first 14 points before St. Thomas registered three of the next four to take an 11-8 lead. Trailing 16-15, the Golden Eagles used a 6-1 run to jump in front 21-17. After the Tommies recorded the next two points, ORU responded with a 4-0 run to claim the second, 25-19.  

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 4-1 start in the third before the Tommies answered with a 4-1 stretch of their own to even the score at 5-5. With the set tied at 14-14, St. Thomas used a 3-0 stretch to take a 17-14 advantage. ORU rallied with an 11-4 run to take the third set, 25-21. During the stretch, Freeman and de Jesus registered three kills apiece.
 
The Golden Eagles raced out to a 4-1 start for the second straight set in the fourth. Following a 6-1 run that put the Tommies in front, 19-15, ORU answered immediately with six straight points to regain the lead, 21-19. On the Golden Eagles' fourth match point of the game, Baptiste sealed the set, 28-26, and the match with a solo block.    

Match Notes

• As a team, ORU set season-highs in assists (53), blocks (11.0) and digs (76). 
• The Golden Eagles also matched a season-high in kills with 55.
• Defensively, ORU held the Tommies to a .160 attack percentage. 
• Baptiste added seven kills on 15 swings for a team-best .467 attack percentage in the match.
• de Jesus logged a season-best .444 hitting percentage in the win.
• Steen matched Larson for the team lead in service aces with two.
• Freeman has now topped ORU in kills 15 times this season.
• Vaivai dished out 40-plus assists for the fourth time this season.
• Rivas reached double-digit digs for the 10th time this season and 31st time in her career. 
• With the win, ORU snapped its 10-match losing streak.
• The Golden Eagles are now 5-0 all-time against the Tommies.
• The victory marked ORU's first on the road this season.

Up Next
ORU returns home to the Mabee Center on Thursday, October 12 to face South Dakota State at 7 p.m.
 
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