SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 6 Angelo State University volleyball team bounced back from a first-set setback with three dominant sets Friday night, earning a 3-1 victory over Oklahoma Christian at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
With the win, the Belles picked up their fifth consecutive victory and improved to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in Lone Star Conference play. Oklahoma Christian fell to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Angelo State controlled the match statistically, holding commanding advantages over the Eagles in kills, 75-46, assists, 72-44, and digs, 91-75.
Oklahoma Christian claimed the opening set despite hitting just .140, taking advantage of nine Angelo State service errors to edge the Belles, 29-27.
The Belles responded with an offensive surge in the final three sets, recording 56 kills while hitting .422 as a team. Angelo State was particularly dominant in the third and fourth sets, hitting .469 and .442, respectively, to close out the four-set victory.
Julia Hopkins tied her career high with 18 kills while hitting .333 and added 12 digs to record a double-double.
Alli Kirkpatrick came out firing, converting her first eight swings of the match into kills in the opening set. The senior finished with 16 kills while hitting an impressive .464.
Madi Parrish recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 18 kills and 12 digs while hitting .333.
Vivian Parker added 11 kills, while
Hannah Barnhill and
Sydney Thornton each recorded eight kills.
Gabi Ashcraft and
Olivia Pena each recorded double-doubles to help guide the Belles offensively. Ashcraft finished with 32 assists and 14 digs, while Pena added 27 assists and 11 digs.
Allie Duitsman paced the Angelo State defense with 19 digs.
The Belles close out the weekend Saturday afternoon when they host Cameron for Military Appreciation Day at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents receive free admission with a valid military ID. Veterans and military retirees also receive free admission with a valid military ID.
