FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (22-4, 9-4 SAC) ended up on the bitter end of a tough fought, 3-2 match (25-14, 26-24, 25-17, 25-19, 15-5) with Oklahoma City University (22-3, 13-0 SAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.
 
The pendulum of momentum was in full swing in the nail-biter, as each team volleyed more than just the ball. Each team finished with strikingly similar team stat lines, and played impressive defense from start to finish.
 
Wesleyan set the tone to start with three consecutive blocks by four different players. The Rams kept that fire burning and held a 7-4 helped along by a pair of Alanna Hayhurst kills. Kayla Hayes knocked down an ace for a 12-6 lead before a 5-2 run capped on a Britni Mohle kill made a 21-13 advantage, seemingly in a flash. Brianna Jaramillo capped a 4-1 run with a smash to win 25-14.
 
The score was knotted up five times to start the second set before the Stars posted a 10-7 lead. OCU held that lead until Wesleyan tied the set at 14 apiece. The game was tied another 4 times before a Hayhurst laser gave the Rams a late, 21-20. The Stars quickly regained the edge though, and despite Stinnett and Jaramillo teaming up for a block to tie at 24-24, the Stars went back to back to 25 to take the second set.
 
The Lady Rams broke out in the third set on a 9-4 start capped on a Jaramillo kill. Jaramillo added two more for the Lady Rams to make it 13-7 advantage. Hayhurst blasted down an ace to extend that lead to 22-14. Stinnett capped the drive to give the Lady Rams a 25-17 in a dominant win.
 
The Stars pushed the issue in the fourth and tipped the momentum in their favor, getting out to an 8-4 lead. Stinnett and the Lady Rams fought back and made it a 14-12 game before a 6-1 run by Oklahoma City made it a 20-14 advantage. The Stars just went point-for-point with Wesleyan the rest of the way to take the set, 25-19 to force a fifth set.
 
The Stars kept the hits coming to start the final set, grabbing a 4-1 lead. Stinnet answered on the next point, but the Stars were able to protect the lead. Hayhurst made it a 5-4 on a kill, but that would be as close as the game would get. Oklahoma City went on a 10-1 to take the 15-5 win.
 
Head coach Kimberly Weaver had good things to say about the performance despite the loss, "I'm so proud of our team today. We not only fought hard the entire match, we also dominated the match for a good portion. We were just one or two situations away from knocking off the top team in our conference...our best volleyball is in front of us." Weaver also gave praise to her junior hitter for showing incredible toughness, "Stinnett demonstrated more strength and courage today than I have ever witnessed from a student athlete…" Stinnett was hurt making a full extension dive, completely sacrificing her body to keep the ball alive and suffered a nose injury. Play was stopped for about five minutes. Weaver continued, "…for her to be back on the court within three rotations was just beyond commendable."
 
Wesleyan hit .258 as a team, while OCU hit .243. Team blocks finished in favor of TXWES, 11-9. The score was tied 24 times and lead changed hands 10 times.
 
Stinnett hit .353 behind 14 kills, adding eight digs, two aces, and five total blocks. Hayhurst tacked on 12 kills and 12 digs. Robinson posted 48 assists, seven digs, and five block assists in an all-around effort. Mohle had 11 kills, while Chalon Anderson notched 20 digs in the match. Jaramillo took nine kills and seven blocks assists.
 
The Lady Rams will take a two-day rest in preparation for John Brown University. That match will be played on Friday, October 21 starting 7:00 pm at the Sid Richardson Center.