Another Win For No. 21 Volleyball

Oct. 27, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 21 Oklahoma volleyball team added another win to its column on Saturday night as it topped Texas A&M, 3-1 (28-30, 30-21, 30-28, 30-28), inside the McCasland Field House.

The Sooners, who sit at third in the Big 12 standings, improved to 18-5 and 10-3 in the Big 12 while the Aggies fell to 17-7 and 6-7 in league action. The win gave the Sooners a sweep over the Aggies this season as OU knocked off A&M in College Station earlier this year. It also marked the fourth straight win against the Aggies, but only the fifth in the series history.

"We started slow in the first game, but we settled down and played our game," head coach Santiago Restrepo said. "Once again it was a total team effort as five of our players had double-digit kills. In order for us to be successful we have to play as a team and that's exactly what we did tonight."

The Oklahoma offense tied a school record with 73 kills in four games during the rally-scoring era. It ties the 2003 squad's effort against Liberty.

Leading the offense was setter Julie Chester who broke a school record with 64 assists in a four-game match. The previous mark was held by Rachel Jackson with 57 assists in four games against Memphis in 2004. Chester's assists led the Sooners to a .268 hitting percentage.

Outside hitter Sarah Weiland dominated the offensive side of the ball as she recorded 21 kills on a .357 hitting percentage. Weiland also recorded her fourth double-double of the season, one of three Sooners to do so in the match. The senior outside hitter has been impressive in her last three matches as she has averaged 4.17 kills per game on a .319 hitting percentage.

In addition to Weiland, four other Sooners recorded double-digit kills and three more hit .300 or better. Bridget Laplante followed Weiland with 14 kills while Mariana Blum and Francie Ekwerekwu recorded 13 a piece. Anna Stadel was consistent with a .346 hitting percentage with 12 kills.

Despite Texas A&M outblocking the Sooners with 12 blocks, the Sooners still recorded nine. Ekwerekwu led the way with four block assists while Weiland added three block assists and a solo and Stadel also added three block assists. Blum was also strong at the net with two block assists and a block solo.

With five different Sooners collecting double-digit digs, senior libero Hannah Sharp led the way with 26 digs. Blum and Laplante added a double-double with 14 and 13 digs, respectively. Chester added to the team effort with 14 digs.

The Aggies took the 5-4 lead in frame one and never lost it as they jumped out to a 27-21 advantage. However, the Sooners fought back and went on a 6-2 rally to close the gap at 29-27 and cut it to 29-28 but Texas A&M won game one after recording a kill to win 30-28.

The Sooner offense was on fire in game two as it recorded a .419 hitting percentage as the Sooners tied the match up with a 30-21 win in game two. Weiland was unstoppable in the second frame with seven kills on a .667 hitting percentage.

Once again the Sooners had to battle from behind in game three. The Sooners trailed at 27-24, but went on a 6-1 run to claim the third game. Game four was similar with both squads battling back and forth. The final frame saw nine ties and four lead changes, but Oklahoma held on to win the fourth game and the match.

The Sooners will hit the road next Wednesday as they face No. 5 Texas in Austin. It will mark the second meeting between the two squads this season as Texas knocked off the Sooners, 3-0, in Norman earlier this year.

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