Plainview, TX - College of the Ozarks (14-10) split a two-match volleyball road trip, losing 3-0 to Wayland Baptist University (15-9) on Friday, Oct. 23, before defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State (6-15) 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Lady Cats finished the trip 11-7 in conference play.

In the first match, Wayland Baptist won 25-21, 25-12, 25-14 despite early leads by the Lady Cats in all three sets. Kamryn Link served consecutive aces during a six-point opening-set run that produced a 12-8 advantage, and Brinley Watson's kill extended the lead to 14-9. The hosts rallied to tie the set at 15 and won six of the final eight points after a 19-19 tie, with Deniz Yileri delivering the final two kills. Consecutive kills by McKenna McClure gave the Lady Cats a 5-4 second-set lead, but Wayland Baptist answered with five straight points and later closed the set on an eight-point run.

Faith Klindworth served two aces to help build a 9-4 third-set lead. The Lady Cats remained ahead 13-10 before Wayland Baptist scored seven straight points. Kalli Noell interrupted that run with a kill, but the hosts took the next eight points to finish the match. Noell led the Lady Cats with six kills, a .250 hitting percentage and their lone block. Cora Rutledge added five kills. Link recorded 10 assists and nine digs, Emma Godwin also had nine digs and Audrey Riley supplied seven assists and eight digs. Yileri finished with 14 kills and 14 digs as Wayland Baptist hit .262 to the Lady Cats' .047.

Goodwell, OK - The Lady Cats reversed the result in the second match at Anchor D Arena in Goodwell, Oklahoma, winning 26-24, 25-21, 25-17. They saved four set points in the opener with six consecutive points after trailing 24-20. Watson started the comeback with a kill and a solo block before Riley served an ace. Another Watson kill tied the set, an Oklahoma Panhandle State attack error put the Lady Cats ahead and Riley's second ace of the run secured the win. 

In the second set, the Lady Cats led 14-8 before Oklahoma Panhandle State rallied to tie it at 18. McClure answered with a kill and Godwin followed with an ace. After the hosts pulled within 22-21, kills by Rutledge and Noell and an opponent attack error ended the set. The Lady Cats trailed 10-6 in the third before a seven-point surge turned a 12-10 deficit into a 17-12 lead. Addison Hammond served two aces during that stretch, while Anna Brunner and Watson each contributed two kills. Link finished the match with a kill assisted by Godwin.

Brunner and Rutledge paced the winning attack with nine kills apiece. Brunner hit .471 and added three block assists, while Noell finished with eight kills, Watson seven and McClure six. Riley collected 17 assists, 10 digs and two aces, and Link added 16 assists and eight digs. The Lady Cats held advantages of 43-32 in kills and 5-1 in blocks while limiting Oklahoma Panhandle State to a .094 hitting percentage.

Godwin led the Lady Cats with 16 digs and matched Hammond with three aces. Anna Howe contributed 12 digs as the Lady Cats finished with a 68-62 edge in digs and an 8-4 advantage in aces. Tanner Robinson led Oklahoma Panhandle State with 13 kills and added 13 digs. The Lady Cats play Mid America Christian University in their next contest on Thursday, October 29 for Senior Night at Keeter Gymnasium.