POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - College of the Ozarks (16-11) fell 3-2 to University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (17-8) in a conference volleyball match Saturday at Keeter Gym. USAO won 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8. The Lady Cats moved to 12-8 in conference play, while USAO stood at 12-6.

Kamryn Link served three aces during a seven-point serving run in the opening set, with an Audrey Riley kill giving the Lady Cats a 14-5 lead. USAO later cut a 24-16 deficit to 24-21 before an attack error ended the set. The Lady Cats faced a much steeper climb in the second, trailing 20-7 before scoring eight consecutive points. That rally included two Anna Howe aces, two Kalli Noell kills and a block by Brinley Watson and Noell. Watson and Anna Brunner combined for another block to close the gap to 21-18, but USAO answered with three straight kills and secured the set.

A Cora Rutledge kill off Riley's assist put the Lady Cats ahead 20-15 in the third set. USAO responded with seven consecutive points to take a 22-20 lead. Riley stopped the run with a kill, bringing the Lady Cats within one, but USAO collected the final three points on a Chloe Conover kill, an Iyahna Hibbler ace and a Lady Cats attack error.

The Lady Cats forced a deciding set behind their strongest offensive set of the match, recording 16 kills and hitting .188 in the fourth. Two consecutive Faith Klindworth aces helped fuel an early five-point run, capped by a McKenna McClure-Brunner block for an 8-4 lead. Riley later finished another five-point run with a kill for a 22-14 advantage. After USAO scored six straight points, Noell's kill, an opponent attack error and Riley's set-ending kill secured the 25-20 win.

USAO opened the fifth set with six consecutive points and extended its lead to 9-1. Trailing 10-2, the Lady Cats rallied behind three straight Watson kills, then benefited from a setting error and a sanction point to get within 10-7. USAO answered with four consecutive points to reach match point. McClure and Brunner saved one with a block before Trinity Williams delivered the match-ending kill.

Watson led the Lady Cats with 11 kills, while Riley contributed 10 kills, 18 assists and 11 digs. Rutledge also finished with 10 kills. McClure hit .471 with nine kills and only one attack error in 17 attempts, and Noell added nine kills and four block assists. Link directed the offense with 24 assists and added 14 digs.

Emma Godwin paced the Lady Cats with 20 digs, Klindworth added 13 and Howe had 10. Howe served four of the team's 13 aces, while Link and Klindworth each supplied three. Brunner recorded one solo block and four block assists. USAO held advantages of 63-53 in kills, .215-.097 in hitting percentage and 16-9 in team blocks, with Conover contributing 20 kills and eight block assists.

Thhe Lady Cats will hit the road next week as they finish out the regular season schedule at Langston University on Friday, November 6, and Cenrtral Christian College of Kansas on Saturday, November 7.