Volleyball Hosts Iowa State

Nov. 21, 2008

Iowa State (17-11, 9-8 Big 12) at Oklahoma (11-15, 7-11 Big 12)
Date	Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008
Location	Norman, Okla. \| McCasland Field House (2,000)
Tickets	Free admission
Internet	Live Stats
Promotions	100 OU Crocs \| Postmatch autographs
Game Info	Oklahoma Match Notes (PDF)

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma volleyball team closes out its 2008 home schedule Saturday afternoon, hosting the Iowa State Cyclones in a 3 p.m. CT contest from McCasland Field House. The Sooners (11-15, 7-11 Big 12) look to finish the homestand with a win, while the Cyclones (17-11, 9-8 Big 12) look to finish in the top five of the league standings.

Admission is free to the match and the first 100 fans will receive a pair of OU Crocs. The team will also sign autographs following the match. Due to Oklahoma's 7 p.m. nationally-televised football game with Texas Tech, fans are asked to utilize the free shuttle service available at the Lloyd Noble Center.

OU dropped a 3-2 decision to Texas A&M Wednesday evening. The Sooners won the opening set, 25-15 before the Aggies took the second and third sets, 25-20 and 25-18. Oklahoma rallied to win the fourth set 25-20, but A&M was too tough in the fifth set, winning, 15-8. With the loss, Oklahoma was eliminated from postseason contention.

Oklahoma was led by redshirt sophomore Francie Ekwerekwu's career-high 19 kills. Ekwerekwu hit .359 on the evening and added three block assists to carry the Sooners offensively. Freshman setter Brianne Barker tallied 50 assists and 20 digs for her 16th double-double of the season. Barker also recorded her second block solo of the season.

Junior Bridget Laplante tacked on 13 kills for OU and seven digs defensively. Freshman outside hitter Caitlin Higgins added eight kills and had 17 digs to go along with one block solo and one block assist. Defensively, senior libero paced Oklahoma with 22 digs, while freshman Danielle Alva contributed a season-high 10 digs. At the net, sophomore Sarah Freudenrich matched her season high with two block solo and added three block assists to carry OU. As a team, OU out-blocked the Aggies, 10-7.

On Wednesday evening against Colorado, Kaylee Manns narrowly missed a triple double for Iowa State, finishing with 60 assists, 13 digs and eight total blocks while Jen Malcom had 17 kills and eight blocks of her own as the Cyclones defeated Colorado, 3-1. The Cyclones hit .242 and had 70 kills. The trio of Victoria Henson, Rachel Hockaday and Diane Kieger also posted double-digit kills with 17, 13 and 10, respectively. Defensively, Ashley Mass posted a match-high 28 digs. Rachel Hockaday also had an outstanding match defensively, digging a career-best 16 balls.

The Sooners close out the 2008 season Wednesday evening, traveling to Boulder, Colo. to face Colorado in a 6:30 p.m. contest from the Coors Events/Conference Center.