OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's volleyball team opened KCAC play in winning fashion Wednesday night, sweeping Oklahoma Wesleyan University 3-0 inside Wilson Field House. The Braves earned the victory by scores of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-19, defeating OKWU for the first time since the 2023 season and earned its first sweep over the Eagles since the 2021 season.
Ottawa finished with 33 kills, seven service aces and 10 total blocks while holding Oklahoma Wesleyan to a .125 attacking percentage.
Campbell Stark led the Braves offensively with 11 kills on 16 attacks and just one error for a .625 attacking percentage.
Ciara Gray added 10 kills, three aces and six digs.
Set One
The opening set was tightly contested from start to finish. Oklahoma Wesleyan used a four-point run to take a 9-6 lead, but Ottawa responded and eventually tied the set at 15-15 on a block by
Rilyn Conard and
Zoey Huerta.
With the Braves trailing 20-18, Ottawa made its move. A block from Huerta and
Kira Cherry pulled OU within one before Cherry's kill tied the set at 20-20. A Gray block and kill gave Ottawa a 22-20 advantage. After OKWU tied things at 23-23, Stark delivered back-to-back kills to close out the 25-23 victory.
Set Two
Ottawa took control immediately in the second. After Oklahoma Wesleyan scored the opening point, the Braves rattled off 12 straight points to build a 12-1 advantage.
Madison Brauner was at the service line throughout the run and recorded three aces, while Stark added a kill and two blocks.
OKWU attempted to rally and cut Ottawa's advantage to 17-12, but the Braves stopped the run with a Conard kill. Ottawa pushed its lead back out to 21-13 before Stark's kill made it 23-16.
Carson Schuman followed with an ace, and Gray finished the set with a kill for the 25-17 victory.
Set Three
Stark opened the third with a kill as Ottawa jumped in front 4-1. Oklahoma Wesleyan answered and eventually took an 8-6 advantage before the Braves battled back. Consecutive Gray kills tied the set at 10-10, and Conard followed with a kill before Stark and Gray teamed for a block to give OU a 12-10 lead.
The Eagles responded to take a 17-15 advantage, but Ottawa closed the match with a decisive run. The Braves scored five straight to move ahead 20-17, highlighted by a Gray kill. After OKWU pulled within 20-18, Ottawa scored five of the final six points. A Stark-Cherry block made it 22-18, and back-to-back Oklahoma Wesleyan attack errors finished off the 25-19 win and the sweep.
Statistical Breakdown
- Campbell Stark led Ottawa with 11 kills, hit .625, and finished with two solo blocks and four block assists for a team-high 15 points.
- Ciara Gray recorded 10 kills, hit .261, served three aces and collected six digs.
- Rilyn Conard finished with seven kills on a .300 attacking percentage and three block assists.
- Madison Brauner handed out a team-high 16 assists, served three aces and collected seven digs.
- Makela Martinez added 13 assists and six digs.
- Ottawa finished with 33 kills, 30 assists, seven aces, 34 digs and 10 total blocks.
- The Braves committed only two service errors compared with six by Oklahoma Wesleyan.
- Ottawa held the Eagles to a .125 hitting percentage, including .000 in the second set.
- OU's best offensive set came in the third, when the Braves hit .214.
Who is Next
Ottawa (4-7, 1-0) returns to the court on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Wilson Field House against Tabor College. Junior varsity starts things off at 11:00 a.m. with varsity to follow at 1:00 p.m.
