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OBU won 25-20, 25-19, 31-29.
After winning the regular season title last year, OBU bowed out in the tournament semifinals and missed the NAIA Tournament. This year's team went 14-0 in the regular season and crowned that achievement with the tournament title and the first NAIA Tournament berth since the program was revived four years ago.
"The whole team had a different attitude this year," said Lady Bison Coach Anna Howle. "We were confident, but we knew we had to earn it. Your body of work during the season doesn't mean much. It comes down to what you do in the tournament. I'm so proud of all of our girls."
The Lady Bison trailed in all three sets, but none bigger than the final. Down 10-2 to start, OBU found themselves down eight points in the set seven different occasions.
Finally, down 18-11, the Lady Bison scored four straight, including kills by Kristin Pressley, Tarah Derden and Tasha White to make it 18-15.
The Chaps got back to a 20-15 edge, but Chassie Hamilton and Skyler Strahm got kills to make it 20-17. Down 22-18, the Lady Bison benefited from an LCU attack error and a Pressley kill to close to 22-20.
Still down 24-21, the Lady Bison scored the next four points with a kill by Derden, a block by Derden and Hamilton, a kill by Pressley and a set error for a 25-24 edge.
OBU fought off four set points, tying the score 29-29 on a block by Pressley and Strahm. After an attack error by LCU, the Lady Bison won it on a kill by Pressley.
"We were behind early, but they believed in themselves," said Howle. "They were empowered by that. You can accomplish what you believe you can accomplish."
Pressley led OBU with 21 kills with Derden adding eight, while Sabra Clark had 39 assists.
Cami Weimer led the team with 31 digs, followed by White with 20, Hamilton with 18 and Cassie Winker and Pressley with 15 apiece. OBU had five team blocks, led by Hamilton and Derden with three each.
Brittany Johnson and Caitlin Kender led LCU with 12 kills each with Jordan Goings fueling the offense with 36 assists. Goings and Nikki Ralston had 20 digs each, while Melia Wood had four blocks.
Pressley was named MVP of the Tournament and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Weimer, Goings, Kender, Wayland Baptist's Kate Trejos and Southern Nazarene's Kaylee Piatt.
The Lady Bison tied the school record with their 31st win of the season.
OBU, now 31-10, awaits its NAIA Opening Round destination. Word is expected Sunday afternoon.
