OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University boasted of six honorees on the all-Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball team. 

Ella Lofton and Sophia Salak of the Stars took first-team all-SAC acclaim, while Olivia Nutter and Josie Thomas collected second-team all-conference nods. Ruby Kelley and Catelyn Vargas reeled in honorable-mention nods from the SAC. 

Lofton hauled in her fourth all-conference honor to join an exclusive club. Lofton, Marijana Bjelobrk and Meghan Irwin stand as OCU's only four-time all-SAC volleyball recipients. Lofton, a senior from Cedar Park, Texas, notched 3.28 kills, 3.12 digs, 0.30 aces and 0.26 blocks per set this year. Lofton forged 14 double-doubles on the year. Lofton ranks among the top five in Stars history with 1,119 kills to go with 694 digs, 125 blocks and 45 aces in her career. Lofton contributed to OCU's four SAC regular-season and tournament championships, four NAIA Championships appearances and two 30-win seasons. 

Salak became a three-time all-SAC performer. Salak, a senior from McKinney, Texas, amassed 10.90 assists, 2.11 digs, 0.48 blocks and 0.34 aces a set this season. She ranks 11th in average assists among the NAIA in 2021. Salak accumulated 40 assists in 13 matches, 50 assists three times and a career-high 61 assists vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) on Oct. 9 at Abe Lemons Arena. Salak took over as the all-time leader in Oklahoma City history in assists with 3,498 while compiling 700 digs, 169 kills, 142 aces and 125 blocks in an OCU uniform.   

Nutter landed her second all-conference accolade. Nutter, a senior from Plano, Texas, produced 2.09 kills and 0.95 blocks a set with a .268 hitting percentage. Nutter set the OCU record for a four-set match and tied the overall single-contest record with 10 blocks vs. John Brown (Ark.) on Oct. 10 in Oklahoma City. Nutter reached double digits in kills six times. Nutter has totaled 494 kills and 286 blocks as a Star. 

Thomas turned in 4.66 digs and 0.27 aces a set. Thomas, a freshman from Choctaw, Okla., tracked down a program-record 39 digs against Texas Wesleyan on Oct. 8 at Abe Lemons Arena. Thomas registered nine 20-dig outings. She became SAC defender of the week twice. 

Kelley, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., recorded 2.52 kills and 0.55 blocks per set in 2021. She made double figures in kills 11 times. 

Vargas nabbed her third all-SAC honor. Vargas, a junior from Lubbock, Texas, supplied the Stars with 2.52 kills, 0.48 blocks and 0.28 aces a set this season. She notched double-digit kills in 13 matches.  

 HONORABLE MENTION
Andrea Malek, Texas Wesleyan
Ruby Kelley, Oklahoma City
Catelyn Vargas, Oklahoma City
Ava Meyers, Southwestern Assemblies of God
Tatijana Markic, Wayland Baptist
Alanys Ruiz, Panhandle State
Vanessa Moreira, Mid-America Christian
Lariah Allen, Science & Arts
Samantha Perez, Science & Arts
Samantha Clements, Langston
Makenna Thomas, Southwestern Christian
McKenzee Cook, Central Christian