by Cheval John

Oral Roberts Eagles volleyball team didn’t know what to expect when they played Sam Houston State Bearkats on Thursday night.

During their 15 year history in the Summit League, the Eagles posted a 155-31 record, winning seven regular season titles, seven post-season tournament title, and made seven NCAA tournament appearances.

ORU joined the Southland Conference on July 1 and were looking to make a statement in their first game as a member.

Though they got off to a great start in the first set by scoring the first five out of eight points, the Bearkats settled down and dismantled the Eagles in straight sets 25-17, 25-21, 25-18.

Senior outside hitter Kendall Cleveland led the Kats with 16 kills, 5 blocks and three digs.

She produced 11 out of the teams 25 points in the third set alone with her dominant play and overwhelmed ORU.

“I just said to her (Cleveland), ‘My wish for us this weekend is for you to have a great match tonight’ and she did,” head coach Brenda Gray said.

“We wanted to show them that just because you are new. … Doesn’t mean that you will walk all over us,” Cleveland said.

“I think we got out there and proved that tonight.”

After being down 8-6, theBearkats scored the next six out of eleven points to take a 14-11 on a pair of kills by sophomore Devene Wells-Gibson, Kaylee Hawkins, and blocks by Cleveland and fifth-year senior Kim Black.

They went on to win the first set 25-17.

The Bearkats started the second set by scoring the first six out of nine points to make it 6-3.

The Eagles fought back as they went on a 11-8 run to tie the set at 14.

The Bearkats scored the next three points to take a 17-14 lead on a error by ORU, a kill by Cleveland and a block by Hawkins.

They finished them off in the second set 25-21 and went on to win the game to secure a 1-0 record in league play.

Wells-Gibson concluded the match with 11 kills and 10 digs while Black had 7 kills, 7 blocks, 6 digs and an ace.

Tatum Fredeen led the Eagles with 9 kills and Joana Gruber contributed with six.

They are now 0-1 in league play (4-8) overall.

The Bearkats host Central Arkansas on Saturday at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum at 2 p.m.