Day One: Sooners Begin Preseason

NORMAN – The Oklahoma volleyball team kicked off its 2019 campaign Wednesday as the team held its first preseason practice inside McCasland Field House.

OU will look to capitalize on a record season in 2018, which saw the Sooners complete one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in program history during head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton's inaugural season. OU registered a 17-11 overall record and earned a share of third place in the Big 12 to match the team's second-best finish all-time. Additionally, Oklahoma earned a program record four all-conference selections.

"Year two, day one. It's a brand-new team in a lot of ways from what we graduated to what we've brought in," said Gray-Walton. "Culturally and personality-wise, we're a closer unit, all of us, staff to team. I think the possibilities are endless and I think they have very high expectations for themselves.

Grinding in the preseason to earn a spot in the postseason.

First practice is in the books! pic.twitter.com/4reuZPgVM7
— Oklahoma Volleyball (@OU_Volleyball) August 8, 2019

The OU squad returns 11 players from the 2018 season, including Big 12 Libero of the Year Keyton Kinley (junior; Lexington, Kentucky) and Big 12 Setter of the Year Kylee McLaughlin (junior; Carrolton, Texas).

A seasoned team, other returners include seniors Brianna Kadiku (middle blocker; Cedar Hill, Texas) and Haley Sanchez (defensive specialist; Bakersfield, Calif.); juniors Paige Anderson (outside hitter; McKinney, Texas), Hali'a Hogan (middle blocker; Kaneohe, Hawaii), Sarah Maras (outside hitter; Tulsa, Okla.), Kira Morikawa (defensive specialist; Honolulu, Hawaii). Sarah Sanders (outside hitter; Plano, Texas); and sophomores Aysia Harty (defensive specialist; McKinney, Texas) and Sabrina Simms (outside hitter; Argyle, Texas).

Two transfers are also primed for their first year at OU. Junior Paige Johnson (defensive specialist; Pleasant Hill, Mo.) comes to Norman from Arkansas, while graduate transfer Ashlynn Dunbar (outside hitter; Seabrook, Texas) brings three years of experience at San Diego State.

The Sooners are joined by four newcomers in freshmen Abby Butler (middle blocker; Flower Mound, Texas), Olivia Curtis (outside hitter; Oklahoma City, Okla.), Sanaá Dotson (outside hitter; Houston, Texas), and Rylie Gregston (setter; Lee's Summit, Mo.).

"I'm excited about just how deep we are through and through," said Gray-Walton. "From player one to player 17, we're going to be able to pass, set, hit and serve with the best."

Returning to the coaching staff are assistant coach Jake Barreau and volunteer assistant Kyle Walton, both in their second year at OU.

"I'm excited about just how deep we are through and through," said Gray-Walton. "From player one to player 17, we're going to be able to pass, set, hit and serve with the best."
-- Head Coach Lindsey Gray-Walton

Gray-Walton announced the addition of assistant coach Cullen Irons in April. Irons comes to Oklahoma after spending the last six years with the UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball team, where he served first as assistant coach and was made the program's associate head coach at the start of the 2019 campaign.

Preseason Accolades

Two Sooners were tabbed to the Preseason All-Big 12 squad. Rising juniors McLaughlin and Kinley were both unanimous selections after earning first team All-Big 12 honors in 2018.

McLaughlin finished the 2018 season with a conference-best 1162 assists, averaging 10.76 assists per set to rank fourth in the Big 12. In league matches, McLaughlin led the Big 12 with 678 assists, producing a 10.94 assists per set average that ranked second in the league to capture first team All-Big 12 honors.

Kinley led conference with 541 digs and 5.01 digs per set in 2018. The first team All-Big 12 honoree totaled a league-best 348 digs and 5.61 digs per set in Big 12 play. The Kentucky native anchored the Sooner defense that held its opponents to a .189 hitting percentage in 2018, ranking first in the conference. Kinley had double-digit digs in 26 of OU's 28 matches this season, including 16 showings with at least 20 digs.

Kinley was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection to become the first defensive specialist in program history to earn All-America accolades.

Up Next

Fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2019 Sooners in action at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 for the Crimson vs. Cream scrimmage. Admission to the exhibition will be free.

Season and single-match tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2019 season. Fans can order online through SoonerSports.com or over the phone at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at 800-456-GoOU.

After opening the 2019 campaign with back-to-back road tournaments, the Sooners open their home slate with the OU Nike Invitational Sept. 13-14, hosting Arizona State, Louisiana and Georgia Tech.

Preseason Accolades

Up Next

Players Mentioned

Paige Anderson

Abby Butler

Ashlynn Dunbar

Rylie Gregston

Aysia Harty

Paige Johnson

Brianna Kadiku

Keyton Kinley

Olivia LittleJim

Sarah Maras

Kylee McLaughlin

Kira Morikawa

Haley Sanchez

Sarah Sanders

Sabrina Simms

Hali'a Swartman-Hogan

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics