Oklahoma on Wrong End of Thriller

North Texas

Oklahoma

Highlights

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5
North Texas (3-2)	15	25	25	21	15
Oklahoma (1-4)	25	22	23	25	13

Stat Comparison
Category	NT	OU
Kills	49	68
Pct.	.193	.242
Digs	57	63
Blocks	13.0	10.5

Inidivual Leaders
Category	NT	OU
Kills	Dillard - 22	Ward - 22
Assists	Henard - 43	Doyle - 34
Digs	Dillard - 14	Three Players - 13
Blocks	Chamberlain - 7	Ward - 8

Player of the Match
Madison Ward // RJr. // OH Ward tallied a team-high 22 kills, tied for the match-lead, and recorded 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. She added a match-high eight blocks, including two solos.

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma volleyball team came from a set down to force a fifth set and erased a six-point deficit in the deciding game before falling 3-2 to North Texas at McCasland Field House on Friday night. The loss dropped the Sooners to 1-4 on the season, while the Mean Green improved to 3-2.

Oklahoma dominated the first set, 25-15, and hit .300 before North Texas went in front two sets to one with narrow wins of 25-22 and 25-23. The Sooners extended the match with a fourth set win at 25-21, in which they hit .364.

The fifth started inauspiciously for Oklahoma with four Mean Green points scored on an OU service error, UNT ace, OU attack error and set error.

“[Unforced errors] was one of our faults tonight,” addressed head coach Santiago Restrepo. “As you can tell, we out hit them, had better hitting percentage and out-dug them. Unfortunately, we had 15 serving errors.”

Trailing 8-2 at the switch, the Sooners scored each of the next three points to force a North Texas timeout. Out of the timeout, junior outside hitter Kimmy Gardiner (Grapevine, Texas) recorded back-to-back kills to close the gap to one. Oklahoma twice tied the set, but never took the lead as the Mean Green came away with a 15-13 decision.

“We're still trying to look for leadership – for somebody to step up,” said Restrepo. “I think Madison (Ward) did a very good job coming up for the team. She did a very good job, coming up with 22 kills. We need everybody else to step up and do a good job.”

Redshirt-junior outside hitter Madison Ward (Lawton, Okla.) tied for the match lead with North Texas' Carnae Dillard at 22. Ward hit a team-best .304 with 13 digs for her second double-double, while also totaling eight blocks.

Senior setter Julia Doyle (Plymouth, Minn.) contributed 34 assists and 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Freshman setter Audrey Alford (Norman, Okla.) came off the bench with 21 assists. Sophomore libero Rachel Manriquez (Edmond, Okla.) tied with Ward and Gardiner for the team-lead in digs with 13.

Gardiner notched 15 kills to go with her 13 digs for second double-double of the season. Senior outside hitter Kierra Holst (Coppell, Texas) added 12 kills and six digs, while junior middle blocker Micaela Spann (Carrollton, Texas) recorded eight kills and seven blocks.

The Sooners wrap up the NIKE Invitational Saturday afternoon at 12:00 pm against Central Arkansas. Admission is free.

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Players Mentioned

Audrey Alford

Julia Doyle

Kimmy Gardiner

Kierra Holst

Rachel Manriquez

Micaela Spann

Madison Ward

Madison Ward

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics