Panhandle State volleyball team is on a roll
GOODWELL, Okla. – Head Volleyball Coach Julie Allen and her Oklahoma Panhandle State University squad won its third-consecutive match on Friday, topping Wayland Baptist University, 3-1, at the Noble Center. The Aggies (3-1) defeated the Pioneers (0-2) by set scores of 25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24.
“It was nice to see the team compete tonight,” Allen said. “We had great contributions from a lot of members on the team. It was a fun night to watch the team come together as one unit, devise a plan and attack. They continued to implement skills we had worked on throughout the week to help us be successful against a tough team like Wayland Baptist.
“Truthfully, what started the night out, was the team came out on a roll tonight hitting .393; that is phenomenal. It led to a night full
of strong performances: we out blocked them, out hit them, out-dug them.”
Freshman right-side hitter Ana Pimenta had a huge night in registering her third doubledouble in four outings as an Aggie. Versus the
Pioneers, Pimenta was no loaf as she rung up a match-leading 21 kills, to go along with 12 digs. The 6-foot-2 Brazilian hit a sterling .450 attack average in 40 attempts, while also picking up four blocks and five assists.
On the offensive side, sophomore transfer Essence West, an outside hitter, also had a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs. West had a pair of assisted blocks and one ace to her credit, hitting .270 for the match in 37 attempts.
Defensively, freshman libero Gracie Soza had a big night in her first collegiate start. Soza was a perfect 23for-23 in receptions and had 22 digs. For good measure, Soza had two serve aces and three assists to support the
OPSU offense.
Junior setter Lesly Galarza a team-leading 27 assists. Fellow setter Celenia Toribio chipped in 15 assists. Galarza had 12 digs, as well.
Junior middle blocker Jayden Gromley hit a match-leading .600 on the attack. She had six kills and zero errors in her 10 attacks.
The Aggies’ team finished the evening with a creditable .253 attack average, while holding the Pioneers to .163 on the attack. Panhandle State also held appreciable advantages in both digs (72-56) and blocks (8-4) for the match.
Next up for the OPSU team is a home date versus Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Friday, October 23. The match is slated to tip off at 7 p.m.