OU Stuffs CU in Five-Game Thriller

NORMAN, Okla. - Led by Sarah Weiland and Eliane Santos' blocking at the net, the No. 14 Oklahoma volleyball team extended its home winning streak to nine straight with a five-game win (30-22, 29-31, 30-32, 30-24, 15-9) over the Colorado Buffaloes Saturday night at the McCasland Field House. Oklahoma (24-5, 15-3 Big 12) won its second straight five-game match of the week and ended the Buffs win streak, who upset previously undefeated and No. 1 Nebraska last weekend.

The Sooner defense was huge as it registered 19 blocks to CU's nine. Santos led the way with 11 total blocks, including three solo and eight assisted. Weiland recorded a career night at the net as she registered eight block assists and one solo.

Box Score | Cumulative Stats | 2006 Schedule

The other defensive highlight for the Sooners was libero Anna Monsen who collected a match-high 23 digs. Additionally, she became only the second player in rally-scoring history to record 1,000 digs as she collected her 1,000th digs in the first game and now owns 1,017 in her career.

The offense, which hit at a .276 hitting percentage, was paced by Joanna Schmitt's 26 kills and .369 hitting percentage. The senior outside hitter recorded her 17th double-double of the season as she also recorded 14 digs.

For the second straight match, setter Rachel Jackson recorded 77 assists, tying the five-game rally-scoring record she set earlier this week against Missouri. Jackson also added two kills and 13 digs in the win.

In addition to Schmitt, three other Sooners recorded double-digit kills. Santos pounded 20 kills on a .368 hitting percentage while Weiland followed with 17 kills on a .367 clip and Laplante registered a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.

Oklahoma had to come from behind for the second straight week as it was down 2-1 heading into the fourth game. Oklahoma dominated game one as it never trailed in the entire set and Colorado only tied it up on four occasions.

In game two, the Sooners led the entire frame, including a 29-26 advantage, until CU went on a 4-0 run to take its first lead at 29-28 and recorded the next two straight points to win, 31-29.

Game three was similar to the second as it also went extra points. CU led the entire match until Oklahoma took the lead at 19-18. The two squads traded points until CU took a large lead at 27-24 and Oklahoma couldn't ever gain the lead back. The Sooners tied it up at 30-30, but the Buffs recorded the next two points and won the frame.

The Sooners rallied in the next two games as CU only tied it up twice in the final two games and took its only lead in the final two frames in game five. The Sooners hit .312 in the fifth game while holding CU to a .000 hitting percentage in the final frame.

The squad will round out its home schedule of the season this Tuesday as it hosts Iowa State on Senior Night at 7 p.m. A ceremony honoring seniors Rachel Jackson, Anna Monsen, Eliane Santos, Joanna Schmitt and Laura Tomes will take place after the match.

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