INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. �€" The Oral Roberts University
volleyball team rallied to win its second straight five-game match
Friday night, outlasting IUPUI 3-2 (14-30, 30-28, 30-25, 29-31,
19-17) in front of 213 at the IUPUI Gymnasium. With the win, ORU
improved to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in Mid-Con action.
Outside hitter Ori Zuzic (Porec, Croatia) was one
of three Golden Eagles to register double-digit kills, totaling 23
kills and 14 digs for her ninth double-double of the year.
Rightside hitter Jackie Oliveira (Minas Gerais,
Brazil) added 16 kills, 17 digs, and four blocks for ORU.
The Golden Eagles fell into an early 1-0 deficit, as the Jaguars
(9-8, 2-2) held the visitors to a -.062 hitting percentage en route
to a 30-14 game one win.
After wins in games two and three, ORU had a four point lead late
in game four, but couldn't hold on to put IUPUI away. An Oliveira
kill gave the Golden Eagles a 27-23 advantage before the Jaguars
went on a quick 4-1 run to pull within 28-27. Middle blocker
Danijela Novakovic (Rijeka, Croatia) responded
with a kill of her own to give ORU a 29-27 lead with a chance to
serve for the match.
The Golden Eagles couldn't finish things off; however, as they
committed four consecutive attack errors, giving IUPUI a 31-29 win
game four win to force a deciding fifth game.
The Jaguars had their own chances to close out the match during
game five, grabbing leads at 14-13, 15-14, and 16-15. ORU refused
to go away quietly, tying the game each time before using a 4-1
spurt to rally for the 19-17 win to take the match 3-2.
Novakovic ended the match with 10 kills and five digs, and fellow
freshman JoJo Souza (Sao Paulo, Brazil) chipped in
with nine kills while hitting a team-high .389 (9-2-18).
Casey Chrzastowski led IUPUI with 21 kills, and teammate Erin Jones
had a match-high 32 digs.
The Golden Eagles will finish their two match road swing when they
face off against Chicago State on Saturday afternoon at 5:00
p.m.
-ORU-
