smashed 17 kills on Saturday afternoon, just one in a series of outstanding performances as Oral Roberts University swept Abilene Christian University, 3-0, at the Kenneth H. Cooper Aerobics Center. With the win, ORU is now 10-2 (2-0 Southland Conference) after one weekend of league play.

ORU knocked off the Wildcats by scores of 25-21, 25-16 and 25-20.

Pope's 17 kills were just two off her season high, while freshman McKenna Qualls added 10 kills in a well-rounded offensive display. Running the show was Laura Taylor, who finished with 37 assists.

Defensively, Bruna Silva paced the Golden Eagles with 15 digs, while Luara Rosa had nine. Taylor and Kylie Johnson finished with eight digs apiece.

ORU outhit the Wildcats (4-6, 0-2 SLC), .246 to .121, despite Abilene Christian out-blocking the Golden Eagles, 8-4. Jennifer Loerch led ACU with 12 kills.

ORU fell behind in the 1st set, 15-13, before reeling off four straight points, including a Silva ace, to take a 17-15 lead. ORU would not trail again and scored the final three points to win the set, 25-21. Rosa and Jovana Poljasevic combined for a block at set point.

The 2nd set was the easiest of the day, as ORU took a 6-2 lead on a combined block by Qualls and Pancratz and never looked back. A 5-0 run, including consecutive Qualls aces, gave the home team a 20-11 lead, and Pope smashed a kill at set point to conclude a 25-16 win.

ACU took an 11-10 lead on a Loerch kill in the 3rd set, prompting Sheera Sirola to call a timeout. That righted the ship for ORU, with Pope blasting two straight kills to give the home side a 16-14 lead and Rosa making the score 22-16 on her final kill of the night. At match point it was Qualls who supplied the final kill, handing ORU a clinching 25-20 win.

Pope and Qualls weren't the only offensive stars for ORU. Pancratz finished with eight kills and hit .636, while Rosa had seven kills.

Qualls added three service aces, matching a career high.

The Golden Eagles continue Southland play on Thursday, September 26, when they hit the road to face New Orleans. Match time against the SLC newcomer is scheduled for 7 pm CT.