FORT WORTH – The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (21-5, 16-2 SAC) knocked off Oklahoma Panhandle State University 3-1 (18-11, 10-8 SAC) on Senior Day at Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.
 
The Volleyball program honored its five seniors (Hannah Bokal, Morgan Burns, Ashley Curry, Bailey Foy, and Veronika Webb) on Saturday afternoon. This group have led the Lady Rams to three consecutive trips to the NAIA National Championship tournament.  
 
The Aggies came launched out the gate, taking the first set, setting the tone for a hard fought match. OPSU made the Ram offense earn every point throughout the match with solid defense with a crafty counter attack.
 
Also on the line were significant implications in the conference standings. For the Lady Rams, who sit in pole position at 16-2 in SAC play, a win means you hold off the rest of the SAC field for another day. Oklahoma City lurks in second at 15-3, with SAGU at 14-4, and Wayland at 13-5 with a pair of games left for each team. This next week will determine final seeding for the SAC tournament and crown the regular season champion and a coveted automatic bid into the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship. The SAC tournament opening round matches are set for Tuesday, Nov. 9, hosted by higher seeds. That means Texas Wesleyan will host one of those matches at the Sid Richardson Center.
 
The OCU starts still have to play a slightly depleted, but still very determined Wayland team and OPSU on the road, while the Lady Rams take on SAGU and John Brown at home to end the regular season.
 
Texas Wesleyan hit .275 as a team, and limited to OPSU to .136, but it was the Aggies ability to keep the ball in play that made this match a fairly close one. Nevertheless, the Lady Rams offense kept pelting shots, changing looks, and taking out of rhythm chances to keep OPSU on their heels.
 
TXWES allowed eight service aces, the most since surrendering 11 at Oklahoma City on Oct. 8.
 
Bailey Foy was methodical, leading all players with 24 kills and , while Foy, Sydney Charlton, and Veronika Webb each posted three blocks in the win.
 
Foy ranks third in the nation in hitting percentage at .437.
 
Morgan Burns earned her ninth double-double of the season and second in as many matches behind 46 assists and 14 digs.
 
Nyia Anderson was especially active playing all over the court. She tallied nine kills, and nine digs as the Aggies did their best to track the talented sophomore from Grand Prairie.
 
The Rams will host SAGU at The Sid on Tuesday, Nov. at 6 p.m. in another important conference match up.