SHAWNEE -- Oklahoma Baptist (10-9, 4-3 GAC) overcame Henderson State (10-9, 2-5 GAC) in a four-set battle on Friday at the Noble Complex. Despite a strong start by Henderson State, winning the first set 25-17, Oklahoma Baptist responded by taking the next three: 25-19, 25-21, and 25-19.
Henderson State came out strong in the first with a .267 hitting percentage, but its momentum stalled as the Bison picked up their offense.
Avery Hellmuth and
Jill Leslie led the charge, contributing 10 and 12 kills, respectively. Hellmuth also added five service aces, powering her team in key moments. The balanced attack from Oklahoma Baptist saw contributions from multiple players, with
Rylee Unruh and
Allie Stricker each adding eight and 11 kills, respectively.
In contrast, Henderson State's offense struggled with consistency. Christiane Uzoh led with 13 kills, but her .125 hitting percentage reflected the challenges Henderson faced against Oklahoma Baptist's defense.
Katilyn Steffes added 14 kills, though Henderson's overall hitting percentage for the match was a modest .112. Defensive specialist Braxton Jones contributed 15 digs, while setter Kaylon Partain put up 37 assists.
Oklahoma Baptist's defense was equally impressive, with
Lauren Safrit and
Jh'Kyah Head leading the team with 28 and 26 digs, respectively. Both of those marks were career-highs too. Â The team also registered eight blocks, disrupting Henderson State's attack at critical times. Additionally,
Chloe Kasterke, a freshman filling in for OBU's primary setter,
Emily Boyer, dialed up a personal-best 47 assists. Â
In the end, Oklahoma Baptist's balanced offense and strong defensive presence allowed them to control the match after the first set, securing a crucial conference win.
The Bison have now won three in a row. They will return to action on Oct. 17 at Arkansas-Monticello.
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