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Okay rebounds from loss to sweep Wagoner


Posted Date: 09/30/2015

Original article by Muskogee Phoenix

Class 3A No. 2 Okay wasn't about to let a loss earlier in the week derail its momentum as it rebounded for a straight-sets victory over Wagoner at George Hopkins Field House Thursday night.

The Lady Mustangs improved to 22-7 with the 25-17, 25-14, 25-15 win over a Class 4A Wagoner team trying to shake the rust off a nine-day layoff after Chouteau cancelled a game earlier this week.

 

Okay's Summer Milligan led the way with 10 kills and a block while Blake Judkins and Karleigh McMahan added nine kills each as the Lady Mustangs pulled away late in each set.

Okay led just 16-13 in the first set before Milligan made it 23-16 with a kill off an assist from McMahan. The Lady Mustangs stretched that to 24-17 before McMahan drilled the set winner off an assist from Jade Hopkins, who logged 30 assists and seven aces.

McMahan's kill made it 19-13 in the second set, which ended a 6-1 Okay run. Wagoner rallied to within 12-10 in the final set when Okay was flagged for a double hit. The Lady Bulldogs (10-10) pulled within 20-15 before a double hit made it 21-15. Okay then scored the final four points, Milligan clinching it with a block at the net. 

The victory snapped a two-game losing skid after losses to Class 4A schools Sequoyah and Metro Christian.

"That loss (to Sequoyah on Tuesday) motivated the girls to come out and play their best volleyball possible and that's exactly what they did," said Okay coach Belinda Clark. "They were on with their passes and serves and eliminated mistakes and caused them to make mistakes. They cleaned it up and I was proud of them.

"When you beat a team three times (Sequoyah) they're usually going to be more motivated. We didn't play our game and it hurt us and they know it. This game they all dominated in the back row and front row. We cleaned up our serves and everyone just did fabulous. I can't single out any one player."

Kirstyn Anderson had six blocks to lead Okay defensively.

Wagoner was looking to get back on track since its last game, a 3-1 victory at Hulbert on Sept. 15 that snapped a two-game losing skid. The Lady Dogs were without two-year starter Savannah Jones, a junior who tweaked her back in cheerleading. But coach Judy Penner wasn't using that as an excuse.

"We just came out flat," Penner said. "No energy. We need girls who believe in themselves. They did for a little, but we need a whole game. Okay's a good team and we sent over too many free balls and didn't attack. Too many soft balls and we didn't attack at the net."

Penner said Jones is expected back next week, hopefully in time for the regular-season-ending home game with Inola on Monday at 6:30. Okay travels to Class 3A No. 12 Westville at 6 p.m. Monday.