FORT WORTH - The 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Volleyball Tournament kicks off on November 11, with a compelling quarterfinal match-up between the No. 2 seeded Texas Wesleyan Rams (23-6 overall, 20-2 SAC) and the No. 7 seeded College of the Ozarks Bobcats (17-11 overall, 12-10 SAC). Hosted at the Sid Richardson Center in Fort Worth, Texas, where the higher-seeded Rams will look to leverage their home-court advantage and dominant regular-season form to advance to the semifinals.

Team Overviews
Texas Wesleyan enters the postseason on a high note, boasting one of the SAC's top records and tying for the best conference mark alongside Nelson University. The Rams have been a powerhouse this season, dropping just two SAC games and showcasing a balanced offense and stout defense. Their overall .909 winning percentage in conference reflects consistency, with wins over Nelson and Wayland Baptist. The Rams' strength lies in their ability to control matches from the service line and at the net, often overwhelming opponents with efficient hitting and timely blocks.

On the other side, College of the Ozarks has battled through a competitive SAC slate to secure the No. 7 seed. The Bobcats finished the regular season strong, winning four of their last five conference games, including sweeps over Central Christian and Langston in early November. Despite a middling .545 winning percentage in conference, the Bobcats have shown resilience, particularly in five-set thrillers, and could pose a threat if they capitalize on momentum from their late-season surge.

Regular-Season Head-to-Head
The Rams hold a clear edge in this series, having defeated the Bobcats twice during the regular season as they won their first match-up in Fort Worth with a 3-0 victory, followed up with a 3-1 victory over the Bobcats just a month later. The Rams showcased their dominance in both matches as they only dropped one set out of the seven played. In the series' history the Rams hold a 7-1 lead, winning the last six match-ups.

Key Players to Watch
For Texas Wesleyan:

• Hanna Rubis (Middle Blocker): Leads the team with 267 kills, averaging 2.70 per set. Rubis is second on the team in total blocks with 90 and has recorded 36 service aces for the Rams.
• Sydney Alexander (Middle Blocker): The Rams leader in blocks with 106, along with Rubis, Alexander creates a solid one-two combo as she's second on the team with 227 kills.
• Emily Lewis (Libero / Defensive Specialist): Lewis is the Rams defensive cornerstone as she leads the team with 393 digs and had tallied 411 receives with only 20 errors, resulting in a .951 receive percentage. Lewis is also tied for first on the team with 40 service aces.
• Ruby Rumohr (Setter): The facilitator of the Rams offense, Rumohr shares the load with fellow setter Lillian Breaux to help assist the Rams attack. Rumohr leads the Rams with 515 assists, averaging 5.42 a set. Not only is she great helping the offense, she's been stout defensively as she ranks second on the team with 223 digs and is tied for first on the team with 40 service aces.

For College of the Ozarks:

• Cora Roweton (Outside Hitter): Second on the team with 276 kills, averaging 2.79 per set. Leads the offensive charge with fellow teammate Bri Linehan
• Anna Howe (Defensive Specialist): One of four Bobcats with over 200 digs on the year as she leads the team with 252 of her own. Howe has also recorded 417 receives and only 22 errors proving to a quality defensive player
• Bri Linehan (Outside Hitter): The leader of the offense for the Rams, Linehan totaled 280 kills for the Bobcats, averaging 2.75 a set to create the Bobcats power from the outside.
• Gabby Bozzay (Defensive Specialist): Right behind her teammate Howe, Bozzay is second on the team with 239 digs and 398 receives with only 25 errors. Bozzay being a strong second option defensively showcases the Bobcats strong defensive efforts.

What to Expect
This match-up pits the Rams' high-powered, efficient offense (ranking among the SAC's best in hitting percentage) against the Bobcats gritty, comeback-style play. The Bobcats will need to minimize errors and exploit any early lapses from the Rams, especially in serving and passing, to have a shot at an upset. However, the Rams' home crowd and postseason experience make them heavy favorites. The Rams will be looking to advance to the conference semifinal for the 13th consecutive year and look to win the conference tournament for the third year in a row.