Volleyball Adds Trio to 2022 Roster

NORMAN – Oklahoma head volleyball coach Lindsey Gray-Walton announced the addition of Adria Oliver and preferred walk-ons Sydney Thompson and Beth Bayless to the 2022 roster Monday.

"All three are special people with big personalities," Gray-Walton said. "That's something I'm so excited for our fans to see this fall. This team has a hunger and passion to get things accomplished which has been a point of emphasis this off-season."

Oliver, a 6-1 middle blocker from Orangeburg, S.C., joins the Sooners as a graduate transfer from Cincinnati. She played in 69 matches over three seasons for the Bearcats and was named to the 2021 All-AAC Second Team (spring season due to COVID-19) after her junior campaign.

"Adria is a coach's kid," Gray-Walton said. "She understands the demands from both sides, so you see that in the enthusiasm and pace she brings to anything she does. On top of that, she's a proven talent on the court on an extremely successful team."

In her final season at Cincinnati, Oliver played in 72 sets in 24 matches and recorded 131 kills and 47 blocks. She ranked eighth in the American in hitting percentage (.320) and recorded double-digit kills in five matches.

Oliver was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after her performances against Wichita State (11/19) and Tulsa (11/21). She tallied 10 kills and two blocks against the Shockers and 12 kills versus the Hurricane.

During the COVID-19 shortened campaign, Oliver appeared in 12 matches and accumulated 111 kills and 40 blocks. She averaged 2.26 kills and 0.85 blocks per set.

"It's been fun to see her leadership as a sixth-year evolve in the short summer, which was a big goal for her in coming to Oklahoma," Gray-Walton noted. "Adria is a fearless competitor and someone we're glad is on our side of the net. You need that to win consistently which we expect to do moving forward."

Oliver started her collegiate career at Clemson and competed in 75 sets during the 2018 season. She finished with 125 kills and 66 blocks in 26 matches.

Thompson, a 5-9 defensive specialist from Tulsa, Okla., played for Booker T. Washington High School and the Ultimate Performance Volleyball Club. She appeared in 199 sets and recorded 628 assists, 438 digs and 122 service aces during her high school career. Thompson averaged 3.2 assists, 2.2 digs and 0.6 aces per set.

"Homegrown, Tulsa talents ... we always want to recruit the best in our state and each are that in their respective positions," Gray-Walton said. "Add in their hunger to learn, pursuit to be successful and love for the team, it became easy why both Sydney and Beth made our program better."

Bayless, a 6-1 outside hitter from Tulsa, Okla., played for Regent Preparatory School and Oklahoma Peak Performance. During her senior campaign at Regent, she tallied 740 kills, 267 digs, 77 assists, 61 aces and 18 blocks. Bayless was named the 2021 Pinnacle Conference Most Valuable Player.

Oklahoma opens the 2022 season with the Crimson & Cream exhibition Saturday, August 13 and start the regular season Friday, August 26 against Gonzaga at McCasland Field House.

"The depth in our gym is better than ever this fall," Gray-Walton noted. "That's a testament to aligning with our program's vision of striving to always be top 10." We will need to rely on the sum of our parts more than ever this year with the RPI packed preseason and loaded Big 12 regular season in order to make a deep run in December. We believe it's possible and will continue to do what's necessary to make that happen."

Season ticket deposits for the 2022 season are $25 and can be placed here.

Players Mentioned

Sydney Thompson

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics