VOLLEYBALL NEWS: BARTLESVILLE, DEWEY POWER TO KEY WINS
Bartlesville High School’s Ryan O’Bannion (15) watches as Sophie Frye (3) passes the ball during an earlier season match. The Lady Bruins are 4-5 on the season and travel Friday to the Regent Prep tournament.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Aug. 22, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Bartlesville High School’s volleyball team still has a long season ahead of it.
But based on the first week, the rebuilding Lady Bruins (4-5) have displayed plenty of promise.
Last weekend they knocked off elite Class 5A power Tulsa Washington, 2-1.
They thundered past Class 6A stalwart Tulsa Union in a five-set thriller Tuesday night in their home opener, 25-23, 17-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-13.
Rylann O’Bannion served an ace for the match-winning point to bring an end to the marathon.
Mia Johnson fueled the attack with a 21-kill barrage.
“We won the first, third and last sets,” noted Bartlesville head coach Andrew Blain. “It was kind of a Jekyll-and-Hyde night. We were awesome in some sets, absolutely terrible in other sets.”
The bottom line is the Lady Bruins were a lot better than they weren’t.
Johnson has emerged as a devastating force on the front line, an area that was a question mark going into the season.
“She had a very big game,” said Blain.
Cera Federico and Avery Matney contributed six blocks apiece, Emma Parsley dished out 25 assists and Sophie Frye made 24 digs.
“In the Frontier Valley Conference we’ve got tough opponents coming in every night,” said Blain. “They’re (Tulsa Union) not by any means a pushover team. … This win was very big for our record. This win was very big for our confidence.”
The match decision came down to a dramatic climax.
With the score tied 13-13, Johnson handled a serve, passed it to Parsley and got the return pass for a ripping kill to put Bartlesville up, 14-13.
Moments later O’Bannion served an ace for the match winner.
“It was an exciting way to finish,” Blain said. “It really was a team win. We made a couple of subs late … and those girls went in and made big plays. We had so many girls just make big play after big play. It was run to watch.”
Next up, Bartlesville travels Friday to the Regent Prep tourney. First up will be Sand Springs, giving the Lady Bruins a chance to avenge an early season loss.
Next week Bartlesville travels to Ponca City.
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DEWEY
The Lady Doggers took down Oklahoma Union in four sets, 25-17, 25-23, 17-25, 25-15.
Dewey lost some focus in the third set but otherwise played strong.
“We into the fourth set with a different mindset,” explained head coach Hayley Harris.
Marcela Willard provided Dewey its most consistent hitter. Nevaeh Straley also contributed several kills.
C.J. Jones excelled as a blocker and hitter and Callie Posch delivered several blocks.
Setters Kaylee Anton-Cole and Rylan White bolstered the team with their setting and serving.
Harris also praised the hustling play of Olivia Croucher and Isabella Villanueva.
Keeping up the energy was captain Lacey Nichols.
“She kept the spirit really high,” Harris said. “She had four solid kills right off the bat.”