MONTICELLO, AR – A balanced offensive attack was the key as #24 Oklahoma Baptist volleyball earned its eighth win in a row with a 3-0 sweep of Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference action on Friday, Oct. 9, at Steelman Field House.

The Bison (17-4, 9-0 GAC) defeated the Boll Weevils (2-20, 0-9) for the ninth meeting in a row and remained perfect in GAC play. Oklahoma Baptist's win streak is the best since winning nine in a row during the 2023 season.

OBU raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first set but the Weevils hung around and eventually took an 11-10 lead. It would not last long, however, as the Bison went on a 3-0 run to take the lead and never trailed again.

Arkansas-Monticello would stay within striking distance, but Oklahoma Baptist put things away with back-to-back kills from Morgan Hamel and Rylee Unruh to grab a 25-19 first-set win.

The Bison mostly controlled the second set, grabbing a 3-0 lead at the onset and never trailing. OBU led by as many as 10 points before closing things out with a 25-20 victory. Oklahoma Baptist hit .333 in the set while also tallying four aces.

The third and final set looked as if it would be competitive as the Weevils led 11-10 in the early stages. After falling behind, Oklahoma Baptist put its foot on the gas and went on a 15-4 run to close out the set at 25-15 to complete the sweep, scoring the match-clinching point on Elle Parisi's ace.

OBU hit .309 on the attack while limiting Arkansas-Monticello .148 and tallied 10 service aces. Five different Bison had five or more kills including Hamel (9), Unruh (8), Melody Donegan (8), Taya McReynolds (7), and Mackenzie Frazee (5).

Madi Barnes (24) and Sydney Lavender (16) were the leaders in assists. Parisi (16), Unruh (13), and Ellie Gehrke (13) were the defensive leaders with double-digit digs.

NOTES

• Oklahoma Baptist improved to 10-1 all-time against Arkansas-Monticello, and has swept UAM nine straight times.
• The Bison recorded 10 or more service aces for the seventh time this year and the third time in the last four matches.
• Unruh increased her career aces total to 165, with 140 of those coming at OBU, moving her into second in program history behind teammate Emily Boyer.
• Hamel's nine kills were a new career high for the senior. 
• Sydney Frazee made her first appearance of the season, while freshmen Grace Arnold, London Helm, Hadyn Neiman, and Maryella Weaver all made their collegiate debuts.
• The Bison's .309 hitting percentage is the second-highest of the season. OBU hit .416 in the season-opening win over Tuskegee.

NEXT UP
Oklahoma Baptist is back in action next week with home contests against Henderson State (Oct. 15) and Ouachita Baptist (Oct. 16).