BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Oklahoma Wesleyan University volleyball delivered an efficient all-around performance Saturday, sweeping Mission University in straight sets, 25-22, 25-9, 25-14, inside the Mueller Sports Center.
The opening set proved to be the tightest battle of the match, as Mission challenged the Lady Eagles throughout the frame. OKWU remained composed down the stretch, using its offensive attack to secure the 25-22 victory. The Eagles recorded 15 kills in the opening set and hit .206 to establish the early advantage.
Oklahoma Wesleyan took complete control in the second set. The Lady Eagles found their rhythm in serve receive and transitioned efficiently into their offense, pounding down 16 kills with just two attacking errors on 32 attempts for a .438 hitting percentage. OKWU's pressure from the service line and ability to terminate rallies allowed the Eagles to cruise to a commanding 25-9 set victory.
The Eagles continued to fire on all cylinders in the third. OKWU produced another 16 kills while committing only two errors, hitting an impressive .483 in the frame. Mission was unable to slow the balanced Eagle attack, and Oklahoma Wesleyan closed the door with a 25-14 win to complete the sweep.
Maia Rubio led the offensive charge with a match-high 13 kills, hitting .500 on 22 swings. Rubio also made her presence felt from the service line with three aces and completed a double-double with 10 digs.
Anja Grkinic added an extremely efficient performance, putting away 10 kills on 14 attacks with only one error for a .643 hitting percentage, while also contributing two service aces.
The Lady Eagles received production throughout the lineup. Amanda Schaffner finished with eight kills and no attacking errors on 20 attempts for a .400 clip, while Iva Mrkaic registered six kills on eight swings and hit .625. Setter Jaylea Laughlin orchestrated the offense with 38 assists while also contributing a solo block and a block assist.
Defensively, Maria Luisa Caycedo anchored the back row with a team-high 12 digs, while Rubio added 10. At the net, Laughlin and Mrkaic each contributed two total blocks as the Lady Eagles limited Mission to a .114 hitting percentage for the match.
As a team, Oklahoma Wesleyan controlled nearly every statistical category. The Eagles finished with a 47-23 advantage in kills, 42-21 edge in assists, 44-29 advantage in digs, and a dominant 9-1 margin in service aces. Most notably, OKWU hit .368 as a team, committing just 12 attacking errors across 95 attempts.
The straight-set victory showcased a balanced performance from the Lady Eagles, as OKWU combined aggressive serving, efficient attacking and steady back-row defense to control the match from start to finish.
