ORU 3 NDSU 2

[Bogus Smith]

After losing three sets in the first weekend of the season at the Nike Invitational at OU, I never thought that our volleyball team would have anything this season, but it has been a very pleasant surprise to see our ladies play so well and take the lead in the Summit League this season. I look forward to seeing them continue their winning ways next weekend!

FARGO, N.D. - Down two sets to one and 18-12 in the fourth set, the Oral Roberts University volleyball team looked to be just minutes away from an eighth straight loss to North Dakota State, one that would knock them out of a tie for first place in the Summit League.

But Sheera Sirola’s team refused to let that happen.

Instead, the Golden Eagles closed out the fourth set on a 15-7 run, fighting off a match point along the way, and dominated the fifth set to take a thrilling five-set triumph on Saturday night in Fargo. The victory is ORU’s eighth in a row and gives Sirola’s crew sole possession of first place in the Summit League standings.

Oral Roberts (15-4, 8-1 Summit) was led offensively by 15 kills from junior Olivia Ophus, but it was defense that again launched ORU to the victory. Sophomore Bruna Silva tallied a career-high in digs for the second straight night, racking up 41 on the evening.

Silva’s total was just four shy of the ORU single match record of 45, set by Beck Dreher on Nov. 5, 2004 against Western Illinois. Just a night earlier, in a 3-2 win over South Dakota State, Silva notched a career high with 38 digs.

Lauren Cammack and Janna Deyle had 12 kills each to lead North Dakota State (14-7, 7-2 Summit). NDSU outhit the Golden Eagles, .157 to .135, but could not put ORU away in the end.

ORU snapped a 13-set losing streak to the Bison right off the bat, earning a quick 1-0 lead. A three-point run, capped by a Jessica Pancratz kill, gave the Golden Eagles a 9-8 lead, and an Ophus kill ended a 4-0 run with ORU on top, 17-12. Finally, Joana Gruber ended the game with a kill that clinched the win, at 25-22.

But the second game swung heavily in NDSU’s favor, as they raced out to a 7-1 lead. The Golden Eagles conceded ten points on attack errors in the set, where they were never really a factor. NDSU’s Janna Deyle ended the set with a kill to give the Bison a 25-17 win.

Momentum hinged on the third game, and ORU took a lead midway through when a Tatum Fredeen kill made the score 9-8. Kills from Pancratz and Ophus pushed the lead to 23-21, but the home team rallied to snatch the game away from the Golden Eagles. An ORU service error gave NDSU a game point opportunity, and Megan Lambertson swatted a kill on the final point, delivering the Bison a 26-24 win.

A service ace by Chrissy Knuth broke an 8-8 fourth set tie in North Dakota State’s favor, launching a 5-1 that appeared to end ORU’s shot at a victory. But the Golden Eagles fought back, using a 7-1 run of their own to take a 23-21 lead on a Sheina Fernandes kill. But NDSU launched a three-point run of their own, earning a match point when a Knuth blast made the score 25-24.

Facing a loss did not phase Sirola’s team. They scored the final three points of the game on NDSU attack errors, earning a 27-25 win and forcing a decisive fifth game.

Attack errors again helped ORU in the final set, as two in a row gave the road side a 5-3 lead. Later Fredeen took over, launching kills on two out of three points to build the lead to 8-4. Fredeen struck again and Laura Taylor followed to force an NDSU timeout with the score 11-6.

Oral Roberts squashed any chance of a Bison comeback with a brilliant closing stretch. Ophus and McVicker each tallied two kills in the match’s final seven points, clinching the Golden Eagle victory with a 15-9 win.

The victory is ORU’s first over North Dakota State since Oct. 13, 2007. No current Golden Eagle had participated in a win over the Bison prior to Saturday night.

Pancratz, McVicker and Fredeen each had nine kills for ORU. Taylor added 45 assists, while Fernandes had six blocks, including a pair of solo efforts.

ORU stays on the road next weekend, when they face UMKC on Friday and South Dakota two days later. First serve on Friday is scheduled for 5:30 pm in Kansas City.

[theeagleman5]

Big win for the volleyball team on the road against a quality opponent.....this was a huge weekend for the ladies beating SDSU and NDSU.....congrats!.... :clap:

[ORUalum]

not too bad for a team picked to finish 6th in the league.

[Bogus Smith]

I should have also noted originally that ORU is 15-1 since the first weekend of the season....pretty impressive. Granted the competition hasn't been at the same level as that first weekend, but we have gone through the Summit in much better fashion than expected. It's always good when you exceed expectations!!

[ORUJason]

Great job by the women's volleyball team! During the 15-1 run there have been several difficult matches including 6 matches that have gone to a 5th game. And the only loss during that run was also in a 5th game. This team has really developed some mental toughness which I hope will carry them through the Summit League tournament.

I went to the USD game that ORU lost at home (the only loss during the 15-1 run) and USD had 1 hitter who was impressive. When she wasn't on the floor, ORU was the better team but she made a huge difference that pushed USD to the victory. I think ORU's team effort has really improved since that game.