Sandite Volleyball upsets defending State Champions 3-2 at Broken Arrow Tournament

The Charles Page High School varsity volleyball team (4-8) took down some top-tier talent Friday morning at the Broken Arrow tournament, defeating No. 5 Edmond Memorial (3-1), the defending State Champions, and No. 11 Owasso (3-3) in pool play.

CPHS 3 EDM 2
Set One: 25-23 EDM
Set Two: 25-17 EDM
Set Three: 28-26 CPHS
Set Four: 25-19 CPHS
Set Five: 15-11 CPHS

Kills: Mutiri 19, Youngblood 14, Bradshaw 3, Neely 2, Burris 2, Taylor 1.
Assists: Burris 29, MaKenzie Ward 7.
Aces: Taylor 2, Burris 2, Madison Ward 1.
Blocks: Mutiri 9, Youngblood 1.
Digs: Taylor 4, Madison Ward 3, Campfield 3, Mutiri 2. 

The Lady Sandites got off to a strong start, winning five straight rallies to take an 8-6 lead over Edmond Memorial. The game saw five lead changes and ten tied scores before the Bulldogs pulled ahead for the 25-23 win. The second game started out back and forth, but Memorial won six-straight rallies for an 18-10 lead and never looked back, ultimately winning 25-17.

The third game was hotly contest with the largest lead of the set coming at 16-12 in favor of the Sandites. The score tied thirteen times and came down to the wire. Ohio State-commit Gloria Mutiri scored a kill and a block to take the 25-24 lead, but the Bulldogs tied it right back up. Mutiri and Memorial exchanged blows once again before a pair of Bulldog errors gave the Sandites their first win at 28-26.

After losing the third set, the Lady Dogs were noticeably flustered and the Sandites were on fire, leading for all but one rally. After tying it up at 1-1, Edmond began to lag further and further behind. Sand Springs led by as much as 21-11 before their foes staged a rally attempt. Edmond went on two separate runs, cutting the deficit to 22-18, but Mutiri and Madison Burris combined for three more kills to tie the match.

In the fifth and final game, Memorial took a 6-4 lead before turning the ball over on a service error. Kylie Taylor served an ace and a pair of Memorial errors gave Sand Springs the 7-6 advantage. The score tied at 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10 before Sand Springs took the lead once and for all with a kill from Youngblood. The Sandites prevailed 15-11 for the upset.

EDN 3 CPHS 0
Set One: 25-15 EDN
Set Two: 25-22 EDN
Set Three: 25-19 EDN

Kills: Mutiri 16, Youngblood 6, Burris 2, Neely 1
Assists: Burris 13, MaKenzie Ward 7.
Aces: Mutiri 1, Madison Ward 1.
Digs: Taylor 3, Madison Ward 2, MaKenzie Ward 1, Burris 1, Mutiri 1.

In round two the Sandites took on No. 9 Edmond North. The Huskies came out strong in the first game, winning 25-15, but Sand Springs challenged heartily in the second.

Mutiri scored three straight kills for a 5-1 lead and the Sandites didn't relinquish their advantage till the Huskies scored four straight to make it 19-16. The game tied again at 20-20, but the Huskies pulled ahead for the 25-22 win.

Sand Springs played the third set almost entirely from the hole after allowing the Huskies to take an early 8-2 lead. The Sandites rallied as close as 17-15 and battled back and forth in the final stretch before being undone 25-19.

CPHS 3 Owasso 0
Set One: 25-22 CPHS
Set Two: 25-20 CPHS
Set Three: 25-19 CPHS

Kills: Mutiri 17, Youngblood 8, Burris 4, Cypert 3, Neely 1.
Assists: Burris 22, Cypert 1, Youngblood 1. 
Aces: Youngblood 1, Mutiri 1, Burris 1, Cypert 1, MaKenzie Ward 1. 
Blocks: Mutiri 2, Johnson 1, Neely 1.
Digs: Madison Ward 2, Campfield 2, Youngblood 2, Mutiri 1, Burris 1.

The final match of the day was against a Frontier Valley Conference foe, the No. 11 Owasso Rams. Owasso scored the first three points, but the Sandites caught fire with nine straight. Youngblood scored three off assists from Burris, who added one of her own on a tipped ball. Owasso rallied soon after and scored seven straight to tie it at 11-11. Sand Springs retook the lead, briefly allowing Owasso to tie it once more at 20-20 before surging ahead to a 25-22 victory on a kill from Makenna Cypert.

The second set was much like the first. Owasso took an early 5-2 lead, Sand Springs surged ahead to 7-5 and never looked back. The Rams cut things as close as 21-18, but the Sandites had too much momentum and prevailed 25-19.

In the final game the Sandites quickly emerged to a 6-2 lead and never looked back. Owasso tied it up at 2-2 but never once led. The Sandites' biggest lead came on the final rally, finishing 25-19.

The Lady Sandites qualified for the Gold bracket and will play at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The tournament is being held at Neinhuis Park Community Center at 3201 North 9th Street, Broken Arrow.