The Basics
Tulsa Invitational
Score: Oral Roberts 0 – UT Arlington 3
Records: ORU (2-7) – UT Arlington (7-2)
Location: Reynolds Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
TULSA, Okla.– The Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped its final match of the Tulsa Invitational Saturday afternoon, falling to UT Arlington in straight sets (21-25, 23-25, 11-25) inside the Reynolds Center.

For the fourth straight contest, Trinity Freeman, who was named to the Tulsa Invitational All-Tournament Team, topped the Golden Eagles in kills after finishing with 12. The double-digit kill performance marked the fifth of the year for the junior and her third in the last four matches. Freeman also scooped up nine Maverick attacks, narrowly missing a double-double.

Thaynara de Jesus put together a solid all-around performance as the junior registered six kills, a season-best 23 digs, four blocks and two service aces. Setter Kalena Vaivai fell a dig shy of a double-double as the senior dished out 23 assists to go along with nine digs. 

In the opening set, UTA jumped out to a 4-1 start before ORU battled back with three straight points to even the score at 4-4. After the Mavericks opened a 10-7 advantage, the Golden Eagles responded with a 5-0 run to force a timeout. Out of the stoppage, UTA used a 6-1 stretch to regain the lead, 16-13. ORU rallied to tie the score at 19-19 but the Mavericks registered six of the final eight points to take the opening set, 25-21. 

Following a 7-4 start to the second set by UTA, the Golden Eagles answered with a 14-5 run to take an 18-12 advantage. An 11-2 Mavericks stretch flipped the script as they jumped back in front, 23-20. The Golden Eagles tallied three of the next four points to draw within one, 24-23, but a Brianna Ford kill finished off the set two victory for UTA.

In the third, the Mavericks took command early behind a 9-2 start. Following a Freeman kill that pulled ORU to within five, 14-9, UTA put the set out of reach with a 10-0 run as they finished off the sweep.

Match Notes

• Freeman logged double-digit kills for the 36th time in her career.
• de Jesus reached double-digit digs for the fifth time this season, finishing with a season-best 23.
• The junior also totaled a season-high four blocks, two of which were solos. 
• Kedron Burk registered two block assists in the match.
• As a team, ORU totaled six blocks to UTA's five.
• Saturday's match marked the 20th all-time between the two squads.

Up Next
ORU remains on the road as they travel to face No. 22 Kansas on Tuesday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m.
 
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