Drovers Win Two on Opening Day Against Friends and Central Baptist

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 SAC) opened the season with a double-header sweep against Friends University (Kan.) and Central Baptist College (Ark.). The Drovers opened the day with a 3-0 sweep over Friends, followed by a 3-1 triumph against CBC.

vs FRIENDS UNIVERSITY (0-2, 0-0 KCAC)

USAO came out firing in the opening set of the season and cruised to a dominant 25-13 victory. The Falcons made the next two sets much closer on the scoreboard, but the Drovers were still able to come away with wins of 25-20 and 26-24, respectively. 

The Drovers were firing on all cylinders in the first match of the year, tallying a .294 attack percentage on 42 kills. Additionally, they produced 40 assists, 10 aces, 47 digs, and eight total blocks in the match.

Samantha Perez and Victoria Southerland led the offensive attack for the Drovers, with Perez producing a team-high of 12 kills, along with a .333 attack percentage and three block assists. Southerland concluded with 11 kills, six digs, and a pair of block assists.

Bruna Duarte contributed nine kills and a pair of block assists, while Giselle Calderon added eight kills and four block assists.

Madison Garcia and Kalaya Pierce were the key distributers for the Drovers. Garcia finished the match with a match-high of 24 assists, along with four digs. Pierce added 14 assists, two aces, and five digs.

Soleil Trejo was tremendous on defense, leading all players in the match with 24 digs. 

vs CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE (1-3, 0-0 AMC)

The Drovers got off to a bit of a rocky start in the second match of the day and narrowly dropped the first set 25-21. However, USAO was able to respond with three conductive victories to win their second match of the day. Both teams battled hard in the second set, but the Drovers were able to cling to a 25-22 victory to bring the match even. USAO was in full control of the final two sets, winning by margins of 25-13 and 25-12.

The USAO offense produced 50 kills on a .233 attack percentage as a team, along with 47 digs, 10 aces, 77 digs, and six total blocks. 

Victoria Southerland paced the Drovers with a double-double performance, recording 11 kills, in addition to 13 digs and a pair of aces. Samantha Perez followed closely behind with 10 kills, as well as an ace and four block assists.

Bruna Duarte tallied eight kills and three block assists, while Jaedyn Adams-Brown finished with seven kills and two block assists. Gabrielle Gunnoe also closed with seven kills, followed by Giselle Calderon with six kills.

The setter duo of Kalaya Pierce and Madison Garcia was once again terrific. Pierce led the match with 24 assists, along with seven digs. Garcia concluded with 19 assists, six digs, and four aces. 

Soleil Trejo was once again phenomenal on defense, recording a match-high of 27 digs, in addition to a trio of aces at the serving line. Andrea Maldonado was also solid on defense, contributing nine digs.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Friday, August 25 as they head to Kansas to face Hannibal-Lagrange University and Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. USAO will face HLU at 11:00 AM CT, followed by BC at 2:00 PM CT.

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