Volleyball Opens 2020 Season Thursday

NORMAN – The Oklahoma volleyball team is set to open the 2020 season this week with a pair of matches against Texas. The Sooners and Longhorns will face off on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT, followed by a match Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Both games will take place inside McCasland Field House and air on ESPNU. Chad McKee and Kelly Files will be on the call.

OU comes in to the 2020 season after making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. The 2019 Sooners went 19-9 to earn third place in the Big 12 for the second consecutive season.

WEEKEND STORYLINES

A NEW LOOK
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 season has a different look as the Big 12 has elected to play conference only games for the year.

Each team will play four home series and four road series for a total of 16 matches. The Sooners will host Texas, Kansas (Oct. 16-17), TCU (Nov. 5-6) and West Virginia (Nov. 19-20) and will travel to Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State and Texas Tech.

The 2020 NCAA Volleyball Tournament has been scheduled for the spring 2021 semester. The Big 12 Champion will automatically qualify to the spring championship.

Due to limited seating capacity related to COVID-19 precautions, Oklahoma will not be selling season or single-game tickets for the 2020 volleyball season. Home and visitor student-athletes will receive a limited number of complimentary tickets on a pass-list basis.Those who receive tickets are required to follow CDC guidelines and wear masks at all times at McCasland Field House. Doors will open one hour prior to competition time.

Limited concessions will be available to those in attendance. Bottled soda and water, pre-packaged popcorn, candy and peanuts will be sold at all matches.

It is strongly suggested that those who will be in attendance at volleyball games in 2020 be tested for COVID-19. Pass-list members showing any symptoms for COVID-19 should stay home as they will not be allowed inside the venues.

The University of Oklahoma enforces a clear-bag policy and walk-through metal detectors at all home athletics events. Review policies and prohibited items at SoonerSports.com/clearbags.

SOONERS FOR HUMANITY
Earlier this year, OU Athletics created "Sooners For Humanity," a program designed to provide a framework to address issues that negate and suppress the human experience. This framework is built on five pillars of Civic Responsibility, Social Intelligence, Education, Accountability and Advocacy, and supports a continued tradition of excellence by addressing issues of humanity with student-athletes, coaches, staff and the wider athletics community. As part of the program, each team will host a Unity Game, which will be used to promote social justice. This Thursday vs Texas will be OU Volleyball's Unity Game.

2019 REWIND
For the first time since the 2014 season, the Sooners were back in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Oklahoma made its 12th overall appearance in program history and first under head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton.

The Sooners finished the 2019 season 19-9 overall, with an 11-5 mark in conference play to finish third for the second consecutive season. The Sooners swept five conference opponents in 2019: Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia. OU split the series with Iowa State.

OU earned the 800th program win when it defeated Kansas on Oct. 5, 2019.

BACK AT IT
The Sooners return 12 student-athletes from the 2019 roster, including Big 12 Libero of the Year Keyton Kinley. Three of OU's returners earned All-Big 12 accolades in 2019 as Kinley and Sarah Sanders earned first team honors, with Paige Anderson earning second team recognition.

Additionally, Kinley was named the Big 12 Libero of the Year, marking the first time a Sooner won back-to-back awards.

WELCOME HOME
Joining the Sooners in 2020 are sophomore transfer Grace Talpash and freshmen Tyler Alcorn, Sam Anthony, Kelsey Carrington and Guewe Diouf.

Talpash comes to Norman from the University of San Francisco where appeared in eight matches, notching four double-digit assist performances. She added six kills and three aces, along with 32 digs before suffering a season-ending injury.

Diouf joins the Sooners with a plethora of international experience as she was a part of the France U19 team and has had experience at the European Championships. In 2020, Diouf was named the best scorer and best spiker as France finished in fourth place at the U19 European Championships.

QUICK HITS

OU is 23-23 all-time in season openers.
In conference play, the Sooners are 11-13 in Big 12 season openers, including 7-4 in its last 11. Last season, the Sooners swept TCU in Norman to open Big 12 action.
OU is 181-263 (.407) all-time against the Big 12.
Two more Sooners' teams also open Big 12 play this week: OU soccer will face Texas Friday in Austin while OU football hosts Kansas State Saturday.
The Sooners were one of just four Big 12 teams to take at least one set from the Longhorns in 2019.

SCOUTING TEXAS

The Longhorns were picked to finish first in the league for the 10th consecutive season and 13th time overall. Texas won a share of the Big 12 title in 2019 and was selected as the No. 2 overall seed at the NCAA Championship.

A trio of Longhorns picked up Preseason All-Big 12 honors, as juniors Brionne Butler and Logan Eggleston and sophomore Skylar Fields were all named unanimous selections.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will have a bye week before returning to action Oct. 8-9 against Baylor in Waco, Texas.

For updates, follow @OU_Volleyball on Twitter or like Oklahoma Volleyball on Facebook.

WEEKEND STORYLINES

QUICK HITS

SCOUTING TEXAS

UP NEXT

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tyler Alcorn

Paige Anderson

Sam Anthony

Kelsey Carrington

Guewe Diouf

Keyton Kinley

Sarah Sanders

Grace Talpash

Sponsors

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