No. 25 OU Drops First Big 12 Match

Sept. 29, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 25 Oklahoma volleyball team found itself in familiar position Saturday night as it went to five games with Missouri. However, for the first time this season the Sooners couldn't win a five-game match as it fell to Missouri, 3-2 (31-29, 30-18, 33-35, 24-30, 15-13).

The loss marked OU's first Big 12 loss of the season as it fell to 12-3 and 5-1 in Big 12 play. It also ended the Sooners' five-match win streak. Four of Oklahoma's last six matches have gone to five games.

The Tigers recorded their first win in conference play as they improved to 1-4 in the league and 8-6 overall.

"Tonight was a great match but Missouri played great defense tonight," head coach Santiago Restrepo said. "It was a hard-fought match but we just couldn't pull through. I give credit to Missouri for that."

Defense was the key to the match as the Tigers out blocked the Sooners, 12-9, while Oklahoma recorded 78 digs to Mizzou's 76. Offensively, the Tigers out hit the Sooners, .274 to .225 while Oklahoma tallied 15 service errors in the match.

Mariana Blum was OU's top offensive producer with 25 kills. Bridget Laplante followed her with 17 kills. Francie Ekwerekwu (13), Anna Stadel (12) and Sarah Weiland (10) also reached double-digit kills while setter Julie Chester registered a career-high 69 assists.

The Sooner defense was led by Stadel, who added six block assists and a block solo. However, Oklahoma couldn't keep up with the Tigers at the net as Missouri had four different players notch three block assists each while MU's Amanda Hantouli also added six block assists.

Laplante added her ninth double-double of the season after collecting a match-high 23 digs for the Sooners. Libero Hannah Sharp followed with 22 digs.

Oklahoma had to battle for every point in a match that went back and forth. However, the Sooners couldn't rally enough in the fifth game. The Tigers led the entire fifth frame until Oklahoma tied it up at 8-8 but the Sooners could never take the lead.

After the Sooners tied it up at 8-8, MU's Weiwan Wang recorded three straight kills and Oklahoma couldn't recover. OU was able to close the gap at 14-13 but Mizzou was too much and ended the game and the match on a kill.

The Sooners will step out of Big 12 play this Wednesday as they travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on the TCU Horned Frogs. First serve between the Horned Frogs and Sooners is set for 7 p.m. Oklahoma will return to Norman and Big 12 action next Saturday, Oct. 6. The Sooners will host the Iowa State Cyclones at 7 p.m.

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