The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 1 – St. Thomas 3
Records: ORU (3-24, 1-14) – St. Thomas (7-19, 3-12)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Okla.)

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team fell in four sets (10-25, 25-23, 17-25, 19-25) to St. Thomas Sunday afternoon inside the Mabee Center.

Prior to the game, the Golden Eagles honored their three seniors; Chloe Salcedo, Kalena Vaivai and Jaxie Wakley for all their contributions to the program.  

Outside hitter Trinity Freeman put down a match-best 18 kills to go along with 13 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. The junior has now led ORU in kills in 21 of the last 22 matches. Junior Shelbi Steen followed with nine kills to go along with 11 digs on the afternoon.

Vaivai put together a strong all-around performance as the senior dished out 38 assists to go along with 13 digs, six kills, four blocks and three service aces. The double-double marked the eighth of the year for the Wailuku, Hawaii, native. 

On the backrow, libero Breanna Rivas scooped up a team-best 20 digs in the match. The 20-plus dig performance marked the seventh of her career. At the net, Natassia Baptiste registered a match-best five blocks, while Wakley followed with three.

In the opening set, the Tommies raced out to a 10-3 start and never looked back as they went on to win, 25-10. The Golden Eagles bounced back in the second with a 10-3 start of their own. After the Tommies rallied to even the set at 16-16, the two sides traded 3-0 runs as the score remained tied, 19-19. ORU went on to score six of the final 10 points, claiming the second set, 25-23.

After the Golden Eagles evened the third at 12-12, St. Thomas rattled off 13 of the final 18 points to take the set, 25-17. In the fourth, the Tommies used runs of 3-0, 4-0, 3-0 and 3-0 en route to claiming the set, 25-19, and the match.

Match Notes

• Freeman topped ORU in kills for the 24th time this season. 
• The junior has now logged 15-plus kills in 15 matches this year.
• Rivas led the Golden Eagles in digs for the 13th time this season. 
• Vaivai surpassed 30-plus assists for the 10th time this year.
• As a team, ORU registered a match-best seven blocks.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles conclude their 2023 season at Denver on Wednesday, November 15 at 7 p.m.
 
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