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Beavers Fall to Cougars at Oklahoma Invitational

by osubeavers.com
Aug 28, 2021

NORMAN, Okla. – The Oregon State volleyball team battled back to force four sets against Houston, but ultimately fell to the Cougars, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Oklahoma Invitational.
 
Houston (2-0) jumped out to an early 12-8 lead in the first set. The Beavers (1-1) made a push for a comeback by going on a 7-2 run to claim a 15-14 lead going into the media timeout. After the break, Houston reclaimed the lead. OSU stayed in the set with key points coming from Izzi Szulczewski scoring a service ace and Nya Buckner recording a kill, but OSU dropped the first set, 25-22.
 
It looked like the Beavers were primed to bounce back in the second set. OSU and UH traded points, but Oregon State held on off early kills from Buckner. Freshman Ryan White served an ace followed by Lindsey Schell and Vivian Light combining for a block to push OSU ahead 16-14. The set remained close with both sides tying at 23-all after Schell and Light continued the offensive attack, but Houston edged out OSU, 25-23, in the second set.
 
OSU looked the keep the action alive in set three, and Light provided the first two kills on a six-point run for the Beavers. The set stayed close when both teams tied at 11, but OSU went on a run to take a 15-13 lead into the media timeout after a solo block from Buckner. Following the break, Houston jumped ahead, but freshman Emily Bourne righted the ship by recording back-to-back kills to even it at 19. OSU finished the match on an 8-3 run to win set three, 25-22.
 
In set four, OSU looked to keep the momentum going by going on a 5-2 run to force the Cougars to call timeout. Afterwards, OSU and UH went back and forth on points until Houston opened match with a six-point run. The Beavers closed the gap down to one point after crucial kills from Bourne and blocks from Buckner and Madison Kelly, but it wasn't enough as Houston took set four, 25-22.
 
Game Notes:

  • Schell and Bourne led the Beavers with 10 kills. Schell also added seven blocks, while Bourne had one.
  • Szulczewski finished the match with 36 assists and six digs. She also recorded five kills.
  • Grace Massey finished with 13 digs to bring her career total to 1,808.
  • Light (9), Buckner (8) and Kelly (6) also contributed kills for the Beavers
  • White finished with two service aces, while Ellie Turner, Szulczewski and Kelly added one each.

UP NEXT:
The Beavers will travel to University Park, Penn. for the Penn State Classic next weekend to take on LSU (Sept. 3), Penn State (Sept. 4) and Iowa State (Sept. 4).
 
For more information on the Oregon State volleyball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/BeaverVBall, by Facebook at Facebook.com/BeaverVBall or on Instagram at Instagram.com/BeaverVBall.
 
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
 

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