The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 1 – Omaha 3
Records: ORU (3-16, 1-6) – Omaha (9-10, 8-1)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Okla.)

TULSA, Okla. – Despite a double-double from Trinity Freeman, the Oral Roberts volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match to Omaha in four sets (28-30, 26-24, 22-25, 22-25) Tuesday night inside the Mabee Center.

Freeman topped the Golden Eagles in kills for the 14th straight contest as the junior logged a match-high tying 17 on the night. The 15-plus kill performance marked the seventh of the season and 21st of her career. The Phoenix, Arizona, native also scooped up a team-best 12 Maverick attacks for her sixth double-double of the year.

Thaynara de Jesus followed Freeman with 14 kills on 33 swings for a .303 attack percentage. Setter Kalena Vaivai orchestrated the offensive attack for ORU as the senior dished out a match-best 29 assists. The Wailuku, Hawaii, native also registered nine digs, four blocks and four kills. 

On the backrow, libero Breanna Rivas totaled double-digit digs for the third straight match and 12th time this season after scooping up 11 on the night. At the net, Kedron Burk logged a team-best six blocks.

In the opening set, Omaha raced out to a 9-3 start before a 5-1 run pulled ORU to within three, 14-11. Following back-to-back points by the Mavericks, the Golden Eagles used another 5-1 run to draw within one, 19-18. ORU later evened the set at 23-23 behind back-to-back kills from Shelbi Steen and Freeman. Despite fighting off five Omaha set points, the Golden Eagles eventually dropped the game, 30-28.

After a 3-0 run put the Golden Eagles up 15-13 in the second, the Mavericks answered with four straight points to take a 17-15 advantage. ORU regained the lead, 21-19, behind a 4-1 stretch that featured two Freeman kills. The two sides traded the final 10 points as the Golden Eagles claimed the second, 26-24. Overall, the second set featured 14 ties and five lead changes.

In the third, Omaha jumped out to a 9-1 start before a 7-2 ORU run cut the deficit to four, 11-7. The Mavericks answered with three straight points to push their advantage to 14-7. Six of the next eight points went the way of the Golden Eagles as Omaha was forced to take a timeout. After ORU pulled to within two, 20-18, Omaha used a 4-0 run to take command of the set as they went on to win, 25-22.

The Mavericks registered seven of the first nine points in the fourth before the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-2 stretch of their own to pull within two, 9-7. Trailing 16-11, ORU used a 4-0 stretch to trim the deficit to 16-15. Omaha answered with a 7-1 run to take a 22-16 advantage. The Golden Eagles battled back with four consecutive points but were unable to overcome the deficit as the Mavericks claimed the set, 25-22, and the match.

Match Notes

• Freeman has now led ORU in kills 17 times this season.
• The double-digit kill performance marked the junior's 12th of the year.
• Freeman's double-double marked the ninth of her career.
• de Jesus logged double-digit kills for the third time this season.
• Burk has now registered five or more blocks in three straight contests.
• Steen chipped in with six kills and 10 digs on the night.
• As a team, ORU totaled season-high tying 12 blocks to Omaha's nine.
• The Golden Eagles logged a season-high tying six solo blocks.

Up Next
ORU hits the road for a Summit League match against North Dakota State on Thursday, October 19 at 7 p.m.
 
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