Volleyball Loses to Kansas In Five

NORMAN, Okla. The Oklahoma volleyball squad hung tough with Kansas Saturday afternoon, but couldn't finish as it dropped a five-game match, 2-3, to the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan.

The Sooners jumped out to a 20-16 lead in the first game, but couldn't hang on as KU took the first frame, 30-28. Oklahoma rallied and took the next game, 30-23, after never trailing against a Kansas squad that received votes in the AVCA top-25 this week.

In the third game, both squads went back and forth until OU took its first lead with a 26-25 advantage and went on to win the game (30-27). Oklahoma never gained a lead in the fourth and fifth frames with KU taking the fourth, 30-14, and edging the Sooners to win the match, 15-13, in the final set.

Oklahoma (5-5, 0-2) took the Jayhawks to five games for the first time since 2002. Kansas pushed its record to 10-1 and 2-0 in conference play while also winning its eighth straight against the Sooners.

“I was really proud of our team today,” head coach Santiago Restrepo said. “The match could have gone either way with a dig here or a kill there. Everyone contributed today during a match where we were a few points shy of a victory.”

Boxscore: KU 3, OU 2 | 2005 Season Stats

Offensively, OU was powered by four Sooners who posted double-digit kills in the match and led OU to a team hitting percentage of .182, including an impressive .371 clip in the second game. Headlining the core was junior Eliane Santos who continues to guide the offense. The middle blocker finished with a team-high 19 kills on a .282 clip and has pounded double-digit kills in every match she has played in this season.

Sophomore Julie Chester started four games for the first time this season to add 27 assists while junior Rachel Jackson came into the lineup as well to add 28 assists.

Following Santos was sophomore Anna Stadel who added 13 kills on the day while hitting at a team-high .296 clip. Preseason All-Big 12 selection Joanna Schmitt entered the match as a starting outside hitter for the first time since injuring her ankle two weeks ago. Schmitt added 12 kills to the Sooner offense while sophomore Sarah Weiland contributed 10.

Oklahoma was impressive at the net, out-blocking a KU squad that is second in the conference in blocks. The Sooners' 14 total blocks were a product of Santos' four solos and four block assists in the match. Santos set a five-game rally scoring record with four solo blocks, the previous record of two was held by several Sooners. In addition, Oklahoma's eight solo blocks set a five-game rally-scoring record, which was previously five.

Other Sooners adding pressure at the net were junior Laura Tomes who added three block assists and one solo while Stadel tallied three solos and two block assists.

Jackson led the team in digs with 10 while sophomore Hannah Sharp tallied nine followed by Schmitt's eight digs and Santos' seven.

Oklahoma will aim for its first Big 12 win of the season when it heads to Texas Tech next Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas.