OKAY — When the ball bounced into Verdigris’ side of the court for Okay to win the second set, Lady Mustangs coach Belinda Clark could smell blood.

“If you win two in row, you’ve got the momentum and you got the other team down,” Okay coach  Belinda Clark said. “It’s tough to come back and win three in a row.”

Although in close-knit fashion, the Lady Mustangs captured the third set, 25-22, to win the match. Okay had won the first two sets, 25-19 and 27-25. The two teams came in ranked 13th and 14th, respectively, in the Okrankings.com Class 4A coaches poll, with Verdigris having the upper spot.

Okay also extended its winning streak to  four straight matches. The Lady Mustangs won their third consecutive match by the score of 3-0.

“We work together as a team and have fun doing it,” senior outside hitter Brittany Adams said. “We’re really doing well this year compared to last year. We’re 10-2 as opposed to 12-19. We set our goals high this season and we’re going to reach them.”

They’re doing it in Clark’s second season after she took over for the legendary Pete Gutierrez, who took Okay to the state tournament in 13 of his 16 seasons, winning it all in 1997.

Adams had four kills in the match. Miesha Gordon, a junior middle blocker, led the Lady Mustangs with seven kills, four aces and five blocks. She credits her team’s communication for the success so far this season.

“If we don’t talk to each other, the ball hits the floor and that doesn’t do any good,” she said.

Bristen Graves, a sophomore middle blocker, also had a strong match with six kills, two aces and a block. Sydney Dehnhardt, the Lady Mustangs’ other senior, and sophomore Courtney Smith had three aces. Setter Brooke Long had 25 assists.

Verdigris coach Lonell Clark-Shew was impressed with Okay after her Lady Cardinals dropped to 4-5 for the season.

“They cover the floor well,” she said. “They’re a well-rounded team and quick on the floor. I want my girls to get another shot at them.”

Verdigris may get that chance as the Lady Cardinals are in the one-day Okay Tournament on Saturday. The rest of the field, besides the Lady Mustangs, include Wagoner, Hulbert, Salina, Westville, Chouteau and the Okay junior varsity.