Wichita, KS - The Friends University Falcons Volleyball team battled against the Oklahoma City University Stars on Saturday nights at Friends University for the opening round of the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament. The Falcons came into the game with a superior record of 32-8, compared to OCU's record of 22-11.

This was the second time these two teams faced off, with OCU winning the first in just three sets. But the Falcons felt confident coming into the game riding a twenty three game winning streak and also earning home court advantage for the match.

With the crowd noise in the Garvey the loudest in recent memory, the Falcons took the first point of the set. The set would go back and forth with both teams being tested defensively and proving to everyone just why these two teams are in the national tournament. But in the first set, the Stars would go on to win with the help from their star player, senior Xiaoting Ma.

The second set belong solely to the Stars as the never relinquished the lead after the first point. The Stars increased their lead by eight points, going up 16-9 at one point. But with help from the Falcon faithful in the Garvey, the home team would not give up. The Falcons rallied to bring the score to 19-16 in favor of the Stars, but failed to come any closer after a timeout by OCU coach Jen Gomez killed the Falcons momentum and lead to a Stars victory 25-19.

The third set meant do or die for the Falcons. Words of encouragement by Friends coach Martin Ayin could be heard telling his team not to give up, and no matter what happens they need to go out and win the next 25 points. With the motivation from their coach and from the crowd, the Falcons jumped out to a 6-0 lead with the help from seniors Rexanne Schilowsky and Addie Jo Petersen. But the Stars would not go away quietly, as they would joust for the lead, as they would go on to tie with the Falcons seven times in the set. The Falcons would go on to win the set 27-25 on the kill by junior Courtney McCune.

The Falcons, riding momentum, were prepared to give it their all in the fourth set of the match, but Xiaoting Ma and company proved to be too much for the Falcons. The set went back and forth, starting with a seven point lead by OCU that then disappeared as the never say die Falcons brought the game back within one point at 19-20. But it would prove to be not enough as junior Alex Benbrook for UCO would get the game ending kill to send the Stars on to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, which begins November 30.

The Falcons season has come to an end, but has been a season to be proud of. Friends would go on to win twenty three straight games and also winning the regular season title of the KCAC, going 15-0 in conference play before sweeping through the conference tournament without losing a single set in three games, and qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament for the second straight year.

By Ryan Tarletsky