The University of Science and Arts volleyball team (10-4, 4-2 SAC) played the College of the Ozarks (7-5, 4-3 SAC) at home on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., beating the Bobcats 3-0, earning their fifth straight win. 

 In a post-game interview, Caeli Schaefer (MB) shared that she was pleased with how the game went.  

“I was glad that we won in three. I think we really played well and played our strengths well. [We] hit well and got the ball up well. I was excited,” Schaefer said. 

 USAO recently beat Wayland Baptist (10-6, 6-2 SAC), Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-9, 2-6 SAC), Langston (2-8, 1-7 SAC), and Central Christian (0-13, 0-8 SAC), all 3-0 wins, and the Drovers were ready to add yet another win to their streak. The starting lineup included junior Cloey Dress (setter), senior Chloe Conover (RS/OH), senior Victoria Wright (OH/MB), sophomore Josie Griffin (DS), junior Trinity Williams (MB), and junior Iyahna Hibbler (OH). The Drovers are coached by Robert Blakley. 

 USAO started strong in the first set and even held a 20-12 lead at one point. The set began with a dig from Hibbler, and Williams quickly scored a point with a kill. Conover and Williams blocked an attack from the opposing team and earned another point. Griffin and junior Bailey Makahununiu (setter) hit many digs, helping USAO power through. Despite their weak start, the Bobcats decided to make a mad dash to win the set, but the Drovers ultimately won it 25-21. In this set, USAO had a whopping 14 kills made by Williams, Hibbler, junior Caeli Schaefer (MB), and junior Mackenzie King (RS/OH). Most of the kills were set up by Dress with a few set up by senior Ytzel Garcia (setter), Griffin, and Conover. 

 The second set started with a dig by Wright, and, shortly later, Williams won a point with yet another kill. Hibbler, Conover, and Schaefer had kills not long after, helping USAO stay tied with the College of the Ozarks. Freshman KK Willard (DS) and sophomore Maggie Lyons (OH/DS) hit several digs throughout the set. The Drovers and Bobcats were neck and neck the entire set as they battled it out for the win, but USAO ultimately pulled through and won 25-22. Like the first set, the second set had a total of 14 kills, which were made by Williams, Hibbler, Conover, Schaefer, Wright, and King. It also included notable blocks by Schaefer, Conover, and Williams.  

 The high stakes, high-pressure third set began with kills made by Williams, Hibbler, and Schaefer that pushed USAO ahead, and Williams and Wright made a block halfway through. Nevertheless, the Bobcats decided to make their presence known, and they took the lead for a short time. However, they let the heat get to them, and the Drovers recovered the lead. The two teams were very close in points until the very end when the Drovers pushed through to win the final set 25-18, earning USAO yet another win of the season. This nerve-wracking set included a stunning 13 kills, making the total number of kills made by USAO 41 (compared to the Bobcats’ 29). 

 During this game, Williams made 10 kills and four blocks; Hibbler scored 12 kills, and Dress had a total of 19 assists. Griffin, Makahununiu, and Garcia made up 31 of the total 51 digs of the night (compared to the Bobcats’ 37). The game also included six blocks and four aces (compared to the Bobcats’ four blocks and six aces).  

 The Drovers will be playing Oklahoma City University (12-3, 6-3 SAC) in OKC on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. and Southwestern Christian University (4-5, 2-5 SAC) in Bethany on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. They will also have their next home game on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in the USAO Fieldhouse against Mid-America Christian University (7-7, 3-5 SAC).  

Brielle Allee is a first-year at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.