Thrilling Comeback Leads Volleyball to Five Game Win

NORMAN, Okla. It was a tight match until the fifth game when the Oklahoma volleyball team pulled away from Texas Tech to claim the 30-28, 31-33, 29-31, 31-29, 15-8 victory on Wednesday night at the Howard McCasland Field House.

The win improved the Sooners conference record to 3-12 and 11-13 overall, while Tech fell to 4-12 in conference and 8-14 on the season.

OU was led by an unsung hero on this night. Sophomore Anna Monsen, who was starting at libero for the first in her career, tallied an OU rally-scoring record 21 digs which provided the backbone for OU's defense. She also keyed numerous rallies with her stellar serving.

“Anna set the tone in the first game with three diving digs,” said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. “From that point you could tell everyone was on board and that we were going to get a full team effort. We finally went into battle as a group, instead of competing as individuals.”

Box Score

Post game kudos also went to senior Keri Coats, who despite playing on a bum leg, had 18 kills and hit at a match high .389 clip. Coats also set an OU rally scoring five game record with nine block assists. She'll have to share the mark with freshman Anna Stadel and sophomore Laura Tomes, who also roofed nine balls.

As a team OU collected 24 blocks, which is the most in any match since 2001 when rally scoring was implemented. Freshman setter Julie Chester got in on the defensive work at the net with a career high five block assists. Chester also had a career-high and OU record 60 assists.

Stadel also contributed nine kills and tied an OU rally scoring record with two solo blocks.

Sophomore Joanna Schmitt collected her 13th double-double of the season with a 23 kill, 15 dig effort. Schmitt struggled during portions of the third and fourth games but was vital late in OU's comeback win.

The Sooners came out aggressive and won a tight contest in the first game. Their offense went down hill in the second game which offset the eight blocks they recorded. In game three neither team hit above .100 and the Lady Raider pulled out the ugly win.

OU began its comeback with an early lead in game four. They would relinquish it before surging back from a 23-26 deficit to extend play. The fifth game was all OU as they built an 8-2 lead before switching courts. Three late blocks sealed the seven point game win and the Sooners third conference win of the year.

Junior-transfer Gabriela Tonon knocked home 15 kills to go along with seven digs, four block assist and one solo block.

Oklahoma continues Big 12 play with a trip to Colorado this weekend. First serve from the Coors Event Center is set for 7 p.m.