OKLAHOMA CITY - Texas Wesleyan Volleyball (24-10) took Oklahoma City (30-3) to the brink Saturday, but ultimately fell in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in five sets (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 21-25, 16-18). It was only the second time in the last nine five-set matchups that the Lady Rams have come up short.

What's important now is what will be determined Monday. 44 teams qualify for the NAIA Volleyball Championship, 34 of which are automatic bids. Since Texas Wesleyan finished as tournament runner-up, defeating Southwest Assemblies of God in two out of three meetings, including a four-set tournament semifinal win, the Lady Rams are in the dance. 20 teams receive a bye to the host site (matches start November 27), while 24 teams will play a play-in at on-campus sites to determine who will make up the rest of the field-of-32.

The latter is what Texas Wesleyan faced last season, defeating Campbellsville at home in five. The field and matchups will be determined by the NAIA Monday November 12 at 10 a.m. CT. through the NAIA's Facebook Live. For more information about the tournament, visit http://www.naia.org/SportSelect.dbml?&SPID=96227&SPSID=640698&DB_OEM_ID=27900

Saturday, Sasha Robinson turned in another triple double - 19 kills, 18 assists and 27 digs, leading the squad in both kills and digs. Brenda Pargas served as the primary passer - 26 assists - allowing Robinson to roam. Robinson also had one of the team's two aces. Tierra Coverson had 11 kills and was a force at the net defensively - eight blocks. Jasmine Creek racked up 18 digs to go along with nine kills and Brianna Sitton did not disappoint with 21 digs. 

The fifth set decided it all. The two squads went back and forth, with Oklahoma City racing out to the initial 4-1 advantage. The Lady Rams rallied, going on a 6-2 run to take a 7-6 edge - the run including three-straight Robinson kills. The Stars held the advantage until a bad set from Taylor Horton gave the Lady Rams a 13-12 lead. The pressure ratcheted up with six of the next eight points coming on errors from both sides; only OKC Ella Lofton (two of her seven kills) managed to get anything going. Tied at 16, the Stars earned the last two points, finishing the game with a Michelle Krenowicz ace, her second of the match.

The Lady Rams dominated the first and third sets behind commanding runs early and late in games. In Set 1, Texas Wesleyan erased an early 3-0 hole,rattling off eight of the next 10 scores, including two kills from Robinson and Brittni Mohle. Up 13-11, the Lady Rams went on a 9-2 run to push their lead to 22-13, forcing the Stars into all sorts of errors - Oklahoma City had 43 attacking errors - nine more than in any game this season. 

In Set 3, Texas Wesleyan roped seven points together for a 9-4 lead, before the Stars scored six straight to reclaim the lead. Up 19-16, the Lady Rams pushed the edge to 23-16 with Mohle and Robinson kills.