Rousing Performance Nets Volleyball First Conference Win

NORMAN, Okla -- The Oklahoma volleyball team battled back from a 2-1 deficit to knock off Colorado in five games (30-24, 16-30, 22-30, 30-20, 15-11) on Saturday evening at the Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners picked up their first Big 12 win of the season and ended a 13-match losing streak that dated back to 1996 against Colorado. The win improves OU to 9-8 on the year and 1-8 in conference. Colorado fell to 10-6 and 5-4 in Big 12 play.

“It's a great win for the program and for the team, which has continued to work hard all season,” said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. “It is a big accomplishment for them to beat a team that is in the top-35 nationally. With that said we have to continue to improve. For us to be successful overall the entire team has to contribute and that happened tonight. That is something we must continue to build on.”

Box Score

The Sooners were opportunistic in the first game of the evening. Colorado had 17 unforced errors in the opening session as opposed to the home team's eight. The Buffs had six service errors, which were a major factor in the Sooners' six point 30-24 victory.

OU head coach Santiago Restrepo experimented with a new back row rotation. Instead of subbing in junior Sheena Werling for outside hitter Gabriela Tonon, Restrepo brought in sophomore setter Rachel Jackson. The extra passer benefited the offense, which hit .259 in the frame.

“We knew we needed a better defender and good hands in the back row,” said Restrepo. “She (Jackson) plays great defense and is a good setter. It gives us a different dimension. Then we can shift Anna Monsen, who is a straight defensive player, and she can sub in for (right side hitter Keri) Coats.”

OU didn't carry any momentum into the second game, which they lost 30-16. Outsiders Allie Griffin and Maragda Santillana had seven kills apiece. CU hit .310 in the second frame while OU mustered just a .021 mark

The Sooners offense remained in neutral in game three. OU hit .053 while CU remained hot with a .324 mark that paced them to the eight point victory.

OU rebounded with the game on the line in the fourth. CU had one more kill than OU but the Sooners were more efficient with their efforts. They had just two errors and hit .294 in the game.

This time the Sooners carried the momentum into the next game. OU jumped out to a early five-point lead and turned it into a 15-11 win. For the second consecutive game OU dominated their opponents in the hitting percentage battle. OU hit .250, which was 200 points higher than CU's effort.

Joanna Schmitt had her eighth double-double of the season with 20 kills and 18 digs. Tonon and Coats topped double-digits with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

The offense was run by freshman Julie Chester, who had a career high 43 assists to go along with 12 digs. Jackson, who was the starting setter until recently, had 11 digs in her new role as a back row defender.

Junior Jennifer Adams had only three kills. She more than made up for it on defense with two solo blocks and eight block assists. Coats and Tonon added five and four blocks assists, respectively.

It marks the second time this season that OU has defeated a team receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Top-25 Poll. The other win came against BYU during non-conference play.

OU continues its home stand with a Wednesday night match against Kansas. First serve is set for 7 p.m.