Drovers Open the Season with a Pair of Wins in Texas

DALLAS, Texas – Saturday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 SAC) opened the 2024 season with a double-header sweep against Williams Baptist University (Ark.) and Paul Quinn College (Texas). The Drovers opened the day with a 3-0 sweep over WBU, followed by a 3-1 triumph against PQC.

vs WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (0-2, 0-0 AMC)

The Drovers began the 2024 campaign in stellar fashion, cruising to a 3-0 victory against Williams Baptist University.

The Drovers got off to a rough start in the opening set and tailed 9-3, however USAO began to turn it around and tied the score at 18-18. The Drovers closed the set strong with a 25-20 win.

USAO stayed hot and opened the second set on a 5-1 run, but the Eagles responded similarly to how the Drovers did in the first set and trimmed their deficit to 12-11. The Drovers held off the threat and cruised to a 25-18 victory and took a commanding two-set lead in the match. USAO held the lead from start to finish in the third set and closed out the three-set sweep with a 25-15 win. 

As a team, the Drovers compiled a .286 attack percentage with 41 kills, while holding the Eagles to a .011 attack percentage and 17 kills. USAO's setters dished out a total of 39 digs and the defense produced 49 digs and three total blocks. 

The USAO offense was led by a pair of double-digit kill performances from Samantha Perez and Jaliayh Cox. Perez concluded with a match-high of 14 kills and a .448 attack percentage, along with three digs and two aces. Cox closed with 11 kills and a .400 attack percentage.

Laura Barrios Bardi provided a boost on both sides of the court, contributing five kills and five digs. Tara Utornik and Giselle Calderon each finished with a trio of kills.

Bailey Makahununiu led the match with 14 assists, followed by Mallory Miller with 10 assists and five digs. Miller also added a match-high of four aces. Josie Joyce dished out eight assists.

The Drover defense was anchored by Brynlee Birney with a match-high of 17 digs, in addition to five assists. Yaiza Larrauri recorded six digs.

vs PAUL QUINN COLLEGE (1-1, 0-0 RRAC)

The first set was very evenly matched, but the Tigers were able to edge the Drovers and picked up a 25-19 win. The score was kept close early on in the second set, but the Drovers began to pull away and cruised to a 25-17 victory to even the match at 1-1. USAO continued their momentum and raced their way to a dominant 25-12 win in the third set. The Drovers wrapped up the four-set victory with a 25-19 triumph in the final set at PQC.

As a team, the Drover offense produced 52 kills on a .241 attack percentage, along with 13 service aces. Defensively, USAO held PQC to a .105 attack percentage, in addition to recording 62 digs and five total blocks.

Samantha Perez once again paced the USAO offense, producing 18 kills on a .438 attack percentage, along with five aces and eight digs. Bruna Duarte added nine kills, followed by Jaliayh Cox with eight, and Giselle Calderon with seven. 

Mallory Miller dished out a match-high of 24 assists, in addition to four aces. Josie Joyce contributed 11 assists and eight digs. Bailey Makahununiu recorded eight assists. 

Brynlee Birney led all players with 15 digs, along with two aces. Yaiza Larrauri concluded with 11 digs and a pair of aces. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Friday, August 23 as they host a double-header against Evangel University and Paul Quinn College. USAO will face EU at 10:00 AM CT, followed by PQC at 3:00 PM CT inside Drover Fieldhouse.

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