In a thrilling conference encounter, the Oakland City University volleyball team clinched a narrow 3-2 victory against the Midway Eagles on September 17, 2024. The hard-fought match took place at the Marshall Gymnasium in Midway, Kentucky, where Oakland City came from behind to capture the win in a five-set thriller.
The Oakland City University squad displayed resilience and skill throughout the match against their formidable opponents. The first set saw Oakland City setting the pace with a 25-21 win, but Midway bounced back in the second, leveling the series with a 25-22 victory. The third set was a nail-biter, with Oakland City scraping through with a 26-24 win, thanks to a game-winning kill by
Lisa Scapini. However, the Eagles did not falter easily, taking the fourth set 25-16 and pushing the game to a deciding fifth set. Oakland City eventually overpowered Midway with a commanding 15-7 score in the final set.
Key players for Oakland City included
Lisa Scapini and
Elleanor Stark, who were crucial in offense alongside
Macy Knight, with significant kills throughout the match. The defensive efforts were spearheaded by
Abigail Vaughn, contributing critical blocks, and the agile movements of
Dunja Madjarevic,
Yianmarie Catala, and
Allison Bucur, who excelled in digs. Serving was also a strong point for the team, with aces from Madjarevic,
Callie Thomas, and Bucur, and crucial assists from Madjarevic, Bucur, and Thomas, contributing to the structured play that led to their win.
This victory not only marked an important start to their conference campaign but also improved their season record to 6-7, with a conference record of 1-0. The team also sported their home colors during this key match, further highlighting their school spirit and unity. With such a strong performance and crucial contributions from across the team, Oakland City University looks poised for more success as the season progresses.
