Memorial's second-ranked volleyball team finished what it started this time. 

The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit against No. 4 Deer Creek at home Thursday evening to beat the Antlers in five sets (23-25, 18-25, 25-13, 25-16, 15-7) to take the season series 2-1.

The win came five days after the Bulldogs (18-3) forced a decisive fifth set with No. 1 Santa Fe, but lost 17-15. 

On Thursday, Memorial pulled through behind an offensive onslaught brought about by stingy defense at the net that flipped what looked like a loss into the team's ninth win over a top five team in Class 6A this season.

"Our hitters started finding the floor more in the third set and our blocking improved tremendously," head coach Natalie Murray said. "Once we had them on their heels we were able to push them a little bit harder."

Aubree Johnson, Sophia Ayubi and Maddi Pollard, among others, helped swing the match in Memorial's favor in the third. EMHS raced out to a 12-2 lead and led by double digits the rest of the set on its way to a 25-13 win. 

"The whole team realized we were totally in control and that we could do this," Murray said of the third. "They didn't stop believing. We just needed to pretend like those first two sets didn't happen."

Senior Jacy Vicsek put the finishing touches on Edmond's fourth set triumph with an emphatic block at the net to give the Bulldogs a 25-16 edge. By then, the momentum was firmly on Memorial's side. 

"We just had a lot of energy. The girls were really excited," Murray said. 

With the fifth set tied 5-5, Memorial took control by winning 10 of the next 12 points while controlling play at the net. A Deer Creek miscue ended the match. 

"As a hitter, it's so mental," Murray said. "Once you get shut down a few times it's hard to come back from that."

Early on, it looked like Deer Creek would spring the upset. Haley Houk and Trinity Sargeant combined to send a Memorial attack back at the net to give the Antlers a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-18 second-set victory, but DCHS couldn't maintain the same level of play as Memorial found its rhythm.

Memorial hosts top-ranked Santa Fe Monday. The Wolves won the only previous meeting this season in five sets. The matchup with the Wolves continues a brutal stretch of the schedule for EMHS, which will play its seventh consecutive top five opponent.

"We see it as a potential state championship preview," Murray said. "We're looking to have a lot of energy, be really excited and see what that championship game would look like."

Deer Creek (15-5) travels to Norman Tuesday.
