Strong Defense Powers Volleyball Past KSU

Box Score (html)
 
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – It was a second dominant performance for the Lady Bison on Friday evening as they dispatched the Thorobrettes of Kentucky State, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-16). Oklahoma Baptist has yet to drop a set while at the Eckerd College Invitational.
 
The Thorobrettes, an NCAA South Regional participant last season, were no match for OBU, falling in straight sets. Oklahoma Baptist, who trailed 2-0 early in the first set, took the lead, 5-4, off a kill by Nicole Fleitman thanks to a Kynnedy Myers assist. The Lady Bison refused to relinquish the lead, going on runs of four and five kills in between a trio of KSU points to put the match out of reach at 17-12. Hayden Blair held serve for the final five points of the match, recording one ace, as OBU closed out the set on a 9-1 run.
 
Oklahoma Baptist and Kentucky State traded points and were tied up four times early in the second set before an attack error by KSU's Kaylin Hurley gave the Lady Bison the lead for good. In the most dominant set of the tournament so far, OBU erupted for a 14-point run, with kills from Shekinah Sharpe, Taylor Williams and Fleitman, as well as a service ace by Darby Maclea, that was aided by three blocks and four unforced errors by the Thorobrettes.
 
Despite trailing 3-1 early in the third set, the Lady Bison found themselves up 15-7 after two five-point runs thanks to three kills apiece by Myers and Mikayla Watson. Fighting off a four-point run by KSU deep in the set at 19-15, OBU scored six of the next seven points to claim a second consecutive straight-sets win.
 
"Our team did a great job of making the necessary adjustments to win," said OBU head coach Anna Howle. "We tipped a lot against this team and were very successful. Kynnedy Myers made great decisions as a setter, and that helped a lot of different people contribute to this win."
 
The Lady Bison held a 41-21 advantage in kills, and held the Thorobrettes to a -.019 hitting percentage. Compounding KSU's 23 errors, were eight blocks by OBU, including two block assists each for Watson and Williams, and a plus-8 (53-45) margin in digs for the Lady Bison. Katrina Horner, Sharpe and Watson each finished with a match-best 12 digs.
 
It was Fleitman's turn to do the heavy lifting, hitting .429 with 14 kills to just two attack errors in the match. Watson had eight kills, and Sharpe seven, to help in the effort. Myers recorded 29 assists in the win.
 
Oklahoma Baptist returns to action tomorrow at 12:30 and 7:30 Eastern Daylight Time as they wrap up the Eckerd College Invitational with matches against New Haven and Eckerd.