Sooners Welcome Texas for Big 12 Home Opener

September 28 | Norman, Okla. | McCasland Field House

⁴Texas

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma Sooners
Record: 9-5 (0-1 Big 12) Coach: Santiago Restrepo (13th Season) Career Record/Years: 356-229/19 Rank: NR

Texas Longhorns
Record: 10-2 (2-0 Big 12) Coach: Jerritt Elliott (16th Season) Career Record/Years: 438-102/18 Rank: 4^AVCA

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TV	ESPNU Tiffany Greene Jennifer Hoffman
Stream	ESPN3/WatchESPN

Player to Watch
Kimmy Gardiner // OH Gardiner is averaging 2.07 kills and 1.67 digs per set in four matches vs. Texas. She twice reached double figures in kills and posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs in a 3-1 loss in Austin a year ago.

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma volleyball team welcomes No. 4 Texas to McCasland Field House for its Big 12 home opener on Wednesday, September 28. The match will be aired nationally on ESPNU at 6 p.m.

The Sooners dropped their Big 12 opener at No. 8 Kansas last Wednesday to fall to 9-5 on the year. Entering the week, five OU hitters are averaging better than 2.30 kills per set with redshirt-senior outside hitter Madison Ward leading the way at 2.91. Senior middle blocker Micaela Spann is fourth at 2.50 kills with a team-leading .412 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Kimmy Gardiner is second in kills and 2.89 and leads the team with 3.55 digs per set. Sophomore setter Audrey Alford is tasked with spreading the ball around and is averaging 11.50 assists per set.

No. 4 Texas is 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 after four-set victories at West Virginia and at home against No. 8 Kansas last week. The Longhorns are hitting .302 as a team and averaging 2.49 blocks per set. Outsider hitter Micaya White leads the attack at 4.38 kills per set on a .305 attack rate followed by fellow outside Ebony Nwanebu at 4.36 and a team-high .368. Setter Chloe Collins manages the offense to the tune of 11.46 assists per set, while libero Cat McCoy leads the defense at 3.84 digs per set.

Pledge for a Cure

The match is also Oklahoma's annual “Pledge for a Cure” to honor the life of Javi Restrepo. Donations can be made at McCasland Field House to benefit the Jimmy Everest OU Children's Medical Center. Sooner coaches Patty Gasso (softball), K.J. Kindler (women's gymnastics) Lon Kruger (men's basketball), and Mark Williams (men's gymnastics) will be on hand to sign autographs prior to the match in the field house lobby.

Last Time They Met

No. 3 Texas finished the 2015 regular season with a 3-0 sweep in Norman on November 27; 25-22, 25-17, 25-17. Paulina Prieto Cerame led all players with 21 kills as Chloe Collins dished out 44 assists for the Longhorns. Madison Ward paced the Sooner attack with 12 kills on a .300 attack rate and added nine digs and two blocks.

Last 10 Meetings

Year	Result	Location
2015	Loss, 0-3	Norman
	Loss, 1-3	Austin
2014	Loss, 2-3	Norman
	Win, 3-0	Austin
2013	Loss, 1-3	Norman
	Loss, 0-3	Austin
2012	Loss, 0-3	Norman
	Loss, 0-3	Austin
2011	Loss, 1-3	Austin
	Win, 3-2	Norman

Stunning Sweep

Oklahoma beat undefeated and No. 2 Texas (10/25/14). It was the Sooners' first win at Texas since 2008 and first win over the Longhorns since 2011. For Texas, it snapped a streak of 34 consecutive home matches won. The Longhorns had won 22-straight sets at home dating back to December 6, 2013. The last Texas loss at home was to Illinois in five sets on September 14, 2012. The OU win came by three identical scores of 26-24. Kierra Holst led all players with 16 kills and Madison Ward with 19 digs.

Coming Off a Day Off

Under the current structure of the Big 12, since TCU and West Virginia joined the league for the 2012 season, Oklahoma has played 15 matches following a bye in the conference schedule. In those matches, the Sooners are 10-5, including a perfect 4-0 mark in 2014. Twice, OU has played Texas after a break in the Big 12 slate; both home losses in 2012 and 2013.

Crossing the Red River

The Sooners' roster features 12 student-athletes from the Lone Star State. The number matches last season's total for the most Texans on the OU roster under head coach Santiago Restrepo. The previous high was 10 during the 2008 season. This season's Oklahoma starting lineup regularly features four players from Texas, including both middle blockers and a pair of outside hitters.