University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
Texas
Sooners' Upset Bid Falls Short at No. 2 Texas
October 10, 2009 | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2009
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AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Oklahoma volleyball team forced extra points in each of the first two sets but was unable to upend second-ranked Texas Saturday afternoon at Gregory Gym. The Sooners (11-6, 4-4 Big 12) fell 3-0 [-25, -24, -15] to the Longhorns (12-0, 7-0 Big 12). Sophomore Caitlin Higgins led the Sooners' offensive attack with 11 kills. Junior Sarah Freudenrich added seven kills and totaled three blocks, including two block solos. Sophomore setter Brianne Barker had her 12th double-double of the season with 22 assists and 10 digs. Barker and sophomore Suzy Boulavsky added six kills each. Freshman Maria Fernanda led OU with 14 digs and a season-high three service aces. The Sooners held the Longhorns to a season-low .195 hitting percentage, well below their season average of .321. The first set featured nine ties and five lead changes. The Longhorns jumped out to a 4-1 lead after Boulavsky gave the Sooners the first point of the set. OU rallied back to tie the set at 5-5 on Fernanda's first service ace. Texas regained the lead at 6-5 and lead 17-9 before the Sooners mounted a comeback. Oklahoma went on a 9-2 run to pull to within one at 19-18 and tied the set at 19-19 on a service ace from sophomore Danielle Alva. After the UT timeout, the two teams traded rallies before the Longhorns got two kills to put the set away at 27-25. The second set mirrored the first in intensity with 12 ties and six lead changes. Oklahoma led 7-4 before the Longhorns took a 10-9 lead. Texas then went up 15-11 before the Sooners' slowly clawed away at the margin, capitalizing on Texas errors to trail 17-16 and force the Longhorns to call a timeout. Out of the break, two consecutive UT errors gave OU an 18-17 advantage and Oklahoma held a 22-21 lead before the Longhorns regained the lead at 24-22. After the Sooners called a timeout, OU tied the set at 24-all on a kill from Freudenrich and a UT attack error. The Longhorns got the final two points of the set to win it 26-24 and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. Texas controlled the third set from the beginning, leading 5-1 early and extending the lead out to 20-9 and winning the set 25-15 to take the match in the minimum required sets. Oklahoma returns home Saturday to host Baylor at noon CT at McCasland Field House.
