The Basics
Bearkat Invitational
Oral Roberts (0-0) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (0-0) | Oral Roberts (0-0) at Sam Houston State (0-0) | Oral Roberts (0-0) vs. Nicholls State (0-0)
Dates: August 25-26
Location: Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum / Huntsville, Texas
Live Video: None | Live Stats: GM1 - GM2 - GM3

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts volleyball team opens the Luke Ward era at the Bearkat Invitaional August 25-26 inside Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas. The Golden Eagles will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday at 4:30 p.m. followed by Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. before concluding the tournament on Saturday against Nicholls State at 1:30 p.m.

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Summit League Notes

Opening Serve
• ORU enters a new era as Ward was tabbed the 12th coach in program history on March 3. In the offseason, Ward returned seven letterwinners and welcomed eight newcomers to the roster.

• Outside hitter Trinity Freeman and setter Kalena Vaivai headline the list of returners for the Golden Eagles as the duo was named Players to Watch by the Summit League. Freeman, who appeared in all 30 matches a season ago, led ORU with 342 kills. Vaivai, who earned Honorable Mention All-Summit League honors in 2022, topped the Golden Eagles with 611 assists to go along with 10 double-doubles. 

• At the net, the Golden Eagles return sophomore middle blocker Natassia Baptiste, who tallied 102 kills and 67 blocks in her freshman campaign. Baptiste's 67 blocks ranked second on the squad.

• On the backrow, ORU is led by the return of Breanna Rivas and Chloe Salcedo, who each spent time as the starting libero in 2022. Rivas ranked second on the team with 353 digs a season ago, while Salcedo registered 192.

• The Golden Eagles open the 2023 campaign 10 wins away from 1,000 as a program. 


Inside the Matchup: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
• Friday's matchup marks the fifth meeting all-time and the first since 2013 between ORU and A&M-Corpus Christi.

• The Golden Eagles are 3-1 all-time against the Islanders and have won three straight in the series. 

• In the Southland Conference Preseason Poll, the Islanders were picked to finish third. 

Inside the Matchup: Sam Houston State
• ORU and Sam Houston State meet for the first time since 2019 and the 14th time overall on Friday night.

• The Bearkats hold a slim, 7-6, edge in the series but the Golden Eagles are 2-1 all-time in Huntsville, Texas.

• Sam Houston State was selected to finish seventh in the Conference USA Preseason Poll.

Inside the Matchup: Nicholls State
• Saturday's matchup marks the sixth meeting all-time and the first since 2013 between ORU and Nicholls State. 

• The Golden Eagles are a perfect 5-0 in the series and have only dropped one set to the Colonels. 

• Nicholls State was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll.
 
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