Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Oklahoma Baptist University on April 24, 2026 at 6 pm
6 pm
Volleyball
vs Oklahoma Baptist University
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Friday, August 25
Muncie, Ind.
10 a.m.
University of Oklahoma
vs
Gonzaga
Sooners Open Season at Ball State Tournament
August 24, 2023 | Volleyball
NORMAN – Oklahoma volleyball opens the 2023 season at the Ball State Tournament in Muncie, Ind., at Worthern Arena on Aug. 25-26. The Sooners start competition against Gonzaga at 10 a.m. CT and conclude the first day against Purdue Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. CT. Oklahoma will play host Ball State on Saturday, Aug. 26 at noon CT on ESPN+.
2023 RETURNERS
• The Sooners return eight from last season's 15-13 squad, including starters Payton Chamberlain, Alexis Shelton, Callie Kemohah and Taylor Preston. Other key returners include Kelsey Carrington, Kristen Birmingham, Sydney Thompson and Chloe Kaminski.
• Chamberlain appeared in 23 matches and made 22 starts, leading the Sooners in assists (795). She finished the season averaging 9.81 assists per outing and added 167 digs.
• Preston finished her freshman campaign with 253 kills and ranked second on the team with 2.94 kills per set. She added 121 digs and 12 aces.
• Shelton was one of three Sooners to appear in all 28 contests last season, making 18 starts. She averaged 2.80 kills per set and tallied 263 kills, ranking second in the program.
• Kemohah led the Sooners with 474 digs and boasted 4.56 digs per set. In addition to her libero duties, she added 130 assists and 29 aces.
• Kaminski tallied 185 digs last season, finishing only second behind Kemohah. She appeared in 27 matches and made 11 starts.
NEWCOMERS
• The Sooners added four freshmen and three transfers to complete the 2023 roster.
• Mele Corral-Blagojevich, Emma Henry, Hannah Pfiffner and Ireland McNees will make their collegiate debuts and Daleigh Ellison (Texas State), Lydia Burts (Liberty) and Rylee Fay (New Mexico State) will don the Crimson and Cream for the first time this season.
• Fay started her collegiate career at Missouri State and joined the Sooners after two seasons at New Mexico State. She led the Western Atheltic Conference in aces (53) and aces per set (0.52), ranking 13th nationally in 2022.
• Burts was named to the 2022 ASUN All-Conference first team last season, receiving her second career all-conference honor. She led the league in blocks (140) and ranked second in the ASUN in hitting percentage overall (.362) and in conference play (.364).
• The freshmen class was ranked No. 18 in PrepVolleyball.com's 2023 class rankings. The class is the fourth top-50 recruiting class since 2018 and the third consecutive top-20 recruiting class overall.
AGAINST THE COMPETITION
• Oklahoma played both Ball State and Gonzaga in 2022, sweeping the Bulldogs in the season opener at the OU Invitational and dropping a four-set match against the Cardinal in the LUV Invitational.
• Against Gonzaga last season, Callie Kemohah, Alexis Shelton and Chloe Kaminski each played. Shelton led the group of returners with six kills and Kemohah recorded a team-high 19 digs. The Sooners have won the previous two meetings against the Bulldogs.
• Against Ball State in 2022, Shelton boasted a team-high 18 kills and Taylor Preston recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 kills and 10 digs. Kemohah tallied a team-best 20 digs.
FOLLOW THE SOONERS
For updates and more information on Oklahoma Volleyball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Volleyball) and like Oklahoma Volleyball on Facebook.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma will continue its road swing to start the season, heading to Corvallis, Ore. for the Asics Invitational on Sept. 1-2. The Sooners open play against Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. CT and conclude the two-day event against Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. CT.
| Date: Friday, Aug. 25 Time: 10 a.m. CT Opponent: Gonzaga Watch: Ball State All-Access Live Stats: BallStateSports.com |
Date: Friday, Aug. 25 Time: 4 p.m. CT Opponent: Purdue Fort Wayne Watch: Ball State All-Access Live Stats: BallStateSports.com |
Date: Saturday, Aug. 26 Time: 12 p.m. CT Opponent: Ball State Watch: ESPN+ Live Stats: BallStateSports.com |
2023 RETURNERS
• The Sooners return eight from last season's 15-13 squad, including starters Payton Chamberlain, Alexis Shelton, Callie Kemohah and Taylor Preston. Other key returners include Kelsey Carrington, Kristen Birmingham, Sydney Thompson and Chloe Kaminski.
• Chamberlain appeared in 23 matches and made 22 starts, leading the Sooners in assists (795). She finished the season averaging 9.81 assists per outing and added 167 digs.
• Preston finished her freshman campaign with 253 kills and ranked second on the team with 2.94 kills per set. She added 121 digs and 12 aces.
• Shelton was one of three Sooners to appear in all 28 contests last season, making 18 starts. She averaged 2.80 kills per set and tallied 263 kills, ranking second in the program.
• Kemohah led the Sooners with 474 digs and boasted 4.56 digs per set. In addition to her libero duties, she added 130 assists and 29 aces.
• Kaminski tallied 185 digs last season, finishing only second behind Kemohah. She appeared in 27 matches and made 11 starts.
NEWCOMERS
• The Sooners added four freshmen and three transfers to complete the 2023 roster.
• Mele Corral-Blagojevich, Emma Henry, Hannah Pfiffner and Ireland McNees will make their collegiate debuts and Daleigh Ellison (Texas State), Lydia Burts (Liberty) and Rylee Fay (New Mexico State) will don the Crimson and Cream for the first time this season.
• Fay started her collegiate career at Missouri State and joined the Sooners after two seasons at New Mexico State. She led the Western Atheltic Conference in aces (53) and aces per set (0.52), ranking 13th nationally in 2022.
• Burts was named to the 2022 ASUN All-Conference first team last season, receiving her second career all-conference honor. She led the league in blocks (140) and ranked second in the ASUN in hitting percentage overall (.362) and in conference play (.364).
• The freshmen class was ranked No. 18 in PrepVolleyball.com's 2023 class rankings. The class is the fourth top-50 recruiting class since 2018 and the third consecutive top-20 recruiting class overall.
AGAINST THE COMPETITION
• Oklahoma played both Ball State and Gonzaga in 2022, sweeping the Bulldogs in the season opener at the OU Invitational and dropping a four-set match against the Cardinal in the LUV Invitational.
• Against Gonzaga last season, Callie Kemohah, Alexis Shelton and Chloe Kaminski each played. Shelton led the group of returners with six kills and Kemohah recorded a team-high 19 digs. The Sooners have won the previous two meetings against the Bulldogs.
• Against Ball State in 2022, Shelton boasted a team-high 18 kills and Taylor Preston recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 kills and 10 digs. Kemohah tallied a team-best 20 digs.
FOLLOW THE SOONERS
For updates and more information on Oklahoma Volleyball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Volleyball) and like Oklahoma Volleyball on Facebook.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma will continue its road swing to start the season, heading to Corvallis, Ore. for the Asics Invitational on Sept. 1-2. The Sooners open play against Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. CT and conclude the two-day event against Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
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OH
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DS
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DS/L
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MB
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MB
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OH
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OH
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DS/L
/ VolleyballVB Highlights: OU 3, Arkansas 1
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