Sooners Come From Behind For Win

Oklahoma 3, Michigan State 1 | Box Score (PDF) | HTML

	1	2	3	4	5	F
Michigan State	25	24	14	21	x	1
Oklahoma	19	26	25	25	x	3

Stat Leaders
Oklahoma	Statistic	Michigan State
Bridget Laplante (25)	Digs	Carli Weiler (19)
Brianne Barker (35)	Assists	Natalie Emro (35)
Caitlin Higgins (18)	Kills	Jenilee Rathje (20)
Brianne Barker (.462)	Hitting %	Natalie Emro (.435)
Chrissy Disarro (5.5)	Blocks	Vanessa King (1)

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NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma opened the 2008 season Friday morning with a 3-1 win over Michigan State in the Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational. Behind sophomore Chrissy Disarro's 5.5 blocks, including a career-high three block solos, the Sooners charged back from a 1-0 deficit to win the match.

"Michigan State is a very strong blocking team with very good hitters," said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. We just had to keep fighting. Chrissy was a major contributor to our defense today. It was very good to see her blocking balls on the front row for us."

In all, the Sooners tallied 12 total blocks - seven which were block solos. In addition to Disarro's three, redshirt sophomore Francie Ekwerekwu also had three block solos. Junior Jackie Fotu added one. Five players combined for 10 block assists.

In their first match as Sooners, freshman outside hitter Caitlin Higgins led the team with 18 kills, while classmate Brianne Barker was the squad's top passer with 35 assists. Higgins added 12 digs, while Barker totaled 14 on the morning.

Junior Bridget Laplante recorded 11 kills and 25 digs on the day. Ekwerekwu added 10 kills.

Michigan State sophomore Jenilee Rathje led all attackers with a game-high 20 kills. Natalie Emro led the Spartans with 35 assists.
MSU won the opening set, jumping out early to a 7-4 lead. OU fought back with kills from Ekwerekwu and Laplante before the Spartans extended their lead to 16-10. From there, MSU rallied to take the first set, 25-19.

The Sooners responded in the second set. Disarro started the game with an ace but the Spartans answered to tie the set at five later. After a Higgins kill, OU kept the rally going. An MSU kill from Rathje brought the Spartans to within one a 17-16 and eventually tied the set at 23-all. After OU held set point at 24-23, Michigan State only scored once more as the Sooners took a close 26-24 decision.

With the match tied a one set each, set three showcased the Sooner attackers. OU jumped out to a 5-1 lead behind kills from Ekwerekwu, Laplante and Barker. OU held a 14-9 advantage midway through the set and put away the Spartans, 25-14 to go up 2-1.

In what proved to be the match's final set, MSU kept the match close throughout. A total of 12 ties took place before the Sooners finally took the lead for good on a kill from Barker. After getting some help from a Sooner service error, the Spartans were down by one at the 19-18 mark of the set. From there, OU fended off the MSU rally to take the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1.

OU hosts Wichita State tonight at 8 p.m. Friday's second session of the Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational begins at 6 p.m. with tenth-ranked Cal Poly facing Michigan State.

WICHITA STATE 3, #10 CAL POLY 2 - The Shockers literally shocked the nation's 10th-ranked team. After being down 2-0, Wichita State rallied to drop the Mustangs, 3-2, in Friday's second game at the Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational. Emily Stockman and Lindsey Eckenrode led WSU with 15 kills each.

SHUTTLES AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY GAME: A free shuttle will be available for fans wishing to attend the 1 p.m. Oklahoma-Cal Poly game on Saturday afternoon. Due to parking related to the OU-UTC football at 6 p.m., most lots in the immediate area will only be open to those with proper credentials. The shuttle leaves from the Lloyd Noble Center bus stops and will drop patrons off on First Street or as close to McCasland Field House as possible. The shuttle will run every 15-20 minutes from noon to 1:15 p.m.