Match Worth Digging

SHAWNEE,Okla. (November 12, 2011) - Kristin Pressley had 21 kills and 18 digs for a double-double and No.20 Oklahoma Baptist University claimed their first Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-19, 31-29) in the tournament championship game over Lubbock Christian University Saturday night at Noble Complex.  The win gives OBU an automatic berth to the 2011 NAIA Volleyball National Championship and LCU will have to await an outside chance when the NAIA announces their at-large bids Sunday.

The match was hard fought with several long rallies.  LCU set a program record for a three-set match with 107 digs.  Their prior high for the season in a three-set match was 82.  Despite compiling 107 digs, OBU, the NAIA leading team in digs, posted 118.

LCU will look back at the third set in the match and wonder what could have been if they had capitalized with their opportunities to claim the set.  LCU opened the set with a 10-2 lead and led 24-21, only to allow OBU to storm back.  The Lady Chaps had set point during eight serves, but OBU was able to get the equalizer to keep the set going and closed the match with three straight points to claim the set and the match.

The Lady Chaps received a double-double from Jordan Goings, who had 36 assists and 20 digs.  The three-time SAC Setter of the Year could have possibly played in her final match, and she would close her LCU career with 1,054 assists on the season and 3,892 in her career. She ranks fourth all-time in program history in assists.  LCU was co-led in kills in the match by Caitlin Kender and Brittany Johnson, who each had 12 kills.  OBU had double-doubles from Pressley and Sabra Clark (39 assists, 18 digs).  Cami Weimer led OBU with a match high 31 assists.

OBU improved to 31-10 on the season, while LCU moves to 24-8.