ENID, Okla. — Oklahoma Bible Academy coach James Ward is hoping the fifth time is the charm when the Lady Trojans go after an elusive Class 5A state volleyball title, beginning today at Westmoore High School.

No. 5-ranked Lady Trojans (25-10), who will play No. 4 Christian Heritage at 5:15 p.m. today, have been eliminated in the semifinals the past two years. They lost in the first round the previous two years under Ward.

“I feel better than I ever had about state,’’ Ward said. “This is a really athletic group and I think that will make a difference for us. If they eliminate their errors, they are capable of winning this thing.’’

Senior Brooke Wayman, who has a team-high 526 kills, agrees.

“This is the most prepared we have ever been for state,’’ she said. “I have more confidence and more excitement than I’ve ever had.’’

The Lady Trojans have faced all seven state entrants in the state tournament and have a 5-9 record against the field, including 1-3 against Christian Heritage.

“We don’t have the fear of the unknown,’’ Ward said. “We know the challenge in front of us.’’

The Lady Trojans lost to the Crusaders 3-1 (25-15, 25-16, 23-25, 25-16) at home on Sept. 13. OBA beat Christian Heritage 2-1 (15-25, 25-17, 16-14) in the double-elimination Chisholm Trail Tournament, but lost twice in the championship round 2-0 (25-17, 25-14) and 2-1 (24-26, 25-21, 15-8).

“We know it’s a team that we can beat,’’ Ward said. “The key will be eliminating our own errors. If we can play smart volleyball, we’ll be OK. They beat us very handily the first time, but a lot of that was our own errors.’’

Wayman will be joined in the OBA starting lineup by freshman setter Ashley Atwood, Andi Messenger, Abby Nickel, Sydney Downing, Hannah Jackson and McKayla Kuykendall. Brooklyn Wiens and Addi Shamburg will be in the rotation.

Atwood was credited with 1,010 assists this season. Nickel was 382 of 395 serving for an impressive 96.6 percent.

The OBA-Christian Heritage winner will play the winner between No.1  Heritage Hall and No. 8 Lincoln Christian at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Other first round games pit No. 3 Cascia Hall against No. 6 Catoosa and No. 7 Shawnee against No. 2 Tulsa Washington. The finals are set for  6:15 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s time for us to move on,’’ Ward said. “We’re on the toughest side of the bracket.’’

CLASS 5A STATE SCHEDULE



5A State Volleyball Schedule

At Westmoore High School

Today games — Noon, Cascia Hall vs. Catoosa; 1:45, Shawnee vs. Tulsa Washington; 3:30, Heritage Hall vs. Lincoln Christian; 5:15, OBA vs. Christian Heritage.

Saturday — 12:30, OBA-Christian Heritage winner vs. Heritage Hall-Lincoln Christian winner; 2:15, Cascia Hall-Catoosa winner vs. Shawnee-Tulsa Washington winner. 6:15, Championship.



OBA against the field



OBA’s matches against state tournament field

Aug. 10 — def. by Lincoln Christian, 3-2 (16-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-20, 17-15

Aug. 10 — def. by Cascia Hall, 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 17-15)

Aug. 11 — def. Lincoln Christian 3-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21)

Aug. 14 — def. by Heritage Hall 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-18)

Sept. 7 — def. Tulsa Washington 2-0 (25-21, 25-18)

Sept. 8 — def. Catoosa 2-0 (25-8, 25-21)

Sept. 8 — def. Shawnee 2-0 (25-19, 25-22)

Sept. 8 — def. by Tulsa Washington 2-1 (25-15, 31-33, 25-18)

Sept. 11 — def. by Christian Heritage 3-1 (25-15, 25-16, 23-25, 25-16)

Sept. 22 — def. Christian Heritage 2-1 (15-25, 25-17, 16-14))

Sept. 22 — def. by Christian Heritage 2-0 (25-17, 25-14)

Sept. 22 — def. by Christian Heritage 2-1 (24-26, 25-21, 15-8)

Sept. 25 — def. by Cascia Hall 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-14, 27-25)

Sept. 25 — def. by Lincoln Christian 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-9)



OBA stats



Serving — Nickel, 382 of 295, 96.6 percent, 42 aces; Kuykendall, 215 of 223, 96.3 percent, 9 aces; Jackson 406 of 432, 93.6 percent; Price, 20 of 22, 90.0 percent, 3 aces;  Shamburg 146 of 161, 89.7 percent, 22 aces; Wiens, 17 of 19, 88.2 percent, 3 aces; Wayman 365 of 410, 87.7 percent, 62 aces; Downing 398 of 450, 86.9 percent; Atwood 419 of 480, 85.4 percent, 64 aces; Messenger, 20 of 24, 80 percent, 7 aces.

Kills — Wayman 526, Downing 243, Wiens 142, Jackson 141, Messenger 97, Nickel 23, Atwood 16, Kuykendall 11, Shamburg 7.

Assists — Atwood 1,010, Nickel 19, Price 13, Jackson 11, Wiens 8, Messenger 5, Shamburg 3, Wayman 3, Downing 1

Blocks — Jackson 45, Messenger 33, Wiens 27, Wayman 13, Downing 8, Atwood 6, Nickel 3.

Digs — Kuykendall 473, Wayman 353, Nickel 263, Downing 248, Atawood 177, Jackson 112, Wiens 57, Shamburg 44, Messenger 31, Price 14