Aggies take a tough loss at home

November 1, 2012

Above: OPSU’s Erica Skipper watches the ball as she is poised to return it. Libero Nora Pulaski (pink jersey) is also in the picture. Staff photo/John Plestina

GOODWELL—Mental mistakes continue to plague the Oklahoma Panhandle State University volleyball team as Dallas Baptist University beat the Aggies in three sets 17-25, 9-25 and 10-25 Thursday night.
The numbers reflect the tempo of the match as OPSU played hard through much of the first set, leading several times. Then the Lady Patriots took control late in the first set and continued to dominate through the second and third sets.
OPSU head coach Mike Stephens reiterated what he said after a recent loss to University of Texas Permian Basin that despite talented players on the squad, mental mistakes have cost the Lady Aggies several matches, including the one to DBU Thursday night.
Stephens is rebuilding the program with nine players on the 12-member squad new to Lady Aggie volleyball this year. They include four freshmen and four sophomores.
When asked if he thought the Lady Aggies came into Set 1 ready to play and appeared to be on a roll toward a win, Stephens said he thought so.
“We’re just not mentally strong. We think things are going to come easy. We have talent. We’re just not mentally strong,” Stephens said.
OPSU recorded only 22 kills in the three matches as opposed to 33 by DBU. Ten of the Lady Aggies’ 22 kills were during the first set.
Shaina Eddings led with six, Lexi McAdam followed with five and Erica Skipper had four. Also recording kills was Jessica DeBaun with three, Sarah Koster with two and Michaela Redding and Terra Madden with one each. Kayla Schwartz led in assists with 11.
The loss leaves the OPSU season overall record at 4-24 and 0-12 in the Heartland Conference. DBU is 17-8 overall.
The Lady Aggies have two home matches remaining in the regular season. Both will be played at OPSU. They are this Saturday against St. Edward’s University at 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, Nov. 8 against Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 6 p.m.
This Saturday’s match will be in honor of Kasey Higgins, a member of the Aggie baseball team who died Oct. 26 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Texhoma.

DBU (3) 25 25 25
OPSU (0) 17 9 10