Sooners Fall in Four to Bruins Saturday

Saturday, September 16

Norman, Okla.

2 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

6-3,0-0Big 12

UCLA

8-2,0-0Pac-12

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UCLA	25	22	26	27	3
Oklahoma	19	25	24	25	1

Photo by: Morgan Givens, OU Athletics

Sooners Fall in Four to Bruins Saturday

September 16, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score Game Book

NORMAN – The Oklahoma volleyball team dropped a four-set match with UCLA Saturday afternoon to split the weekend series inside McCasland Field House. The Sooners (6-3) fell to the Bruins (8-2) 19-25, 25-22, 24-26, 27-25.

Kelsey Carrington powered the offense with a career-high 14 kills as she reached double-digit kills in a match for the first time as a Sooner. Carrington achieved her career feat while also hitting at a .565 clip.

"Kelsey's worked extremely hard, going back even to the spring to put herself in this position," head coach Aaron Mansfield said. "She earned the right to be out here tonight. I think the middle blocker position is a position that we have a lot of depth in and she really took advantage of the opportunity she was given and I'm really proud of her."

Alexis Shelton and Taylor Preston each added 13 kills on the day, while Lydia Burts chipped in eight. Payton Chamberlain recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 38 assists and 11 digs.

Defensively, three Sooners recorded double-digit digs in Chamberlain, Mele Corral-Blagojevich (10) and Callie Kemohah (10). The Sooners tallied 10.0 blocks on the day, led by five from Preston and four from Burts.

The Sooners started on a 3-0 run thanks to back-to-back kills and a block from Preston. UCLA tied the match at 5-all and took the lead on an attack error by Shelton. Burts and Preston teamed up for the block to take the lead, 9-8. The teams continued to trade points throughout the set with neither team able to take more than a two-point lead. The Bruins took their largest lead of the set at 19-16 but a kill from Shelton brought the Sooners back within two. UCLA would pull away at the end of the set to take the opening frame 25-19.

UCLA jumped out to the quick 3-0 lead in the second, but a kill and ace from Preston put the Sooners on the board. Preston's fifth kill of the match tied the set at 9-all. Tied at 10, an ace from Ellison gave OU its first lead of the set. The Sooners extended their lead to 15-11 off a kill and block from Carrington. After pulling ahead 17-12 OU forced a UCLA timeout. The Sooners pushed their lead to 20-14 off a UCLA attack error. The Bruins used a 5-0 run to pull within one at 23-22. A UCLA service error and kill from Shelton secured the second set for OU, 25-22.

In the third, the Bruins took the early 6-4 lead. OU pulled within one at 10-9 on an ace from Corral-Blagojevich but a UCLA run put the Sooners behind 13-9. The Bruins pushed their lead to five before a kill from Shelton made it 17-13. A 5-2 OU run cut the deficit to two at 19-17. The Sooners continued their rally and a UCLA error tied the match at 21. UCLA had set point at 24-22 but a kill from Shelton kept the Sooners alive. With Shelton serving, Preston landed the over pass to tie the match at 24. On the third set point of the third, an OU error gave UCLA the set, 26-24.

The teams traded points early in the fourth with neither team able to establish a clear advantage. OU took its first lead a 9-8, but the teams were quickly tied again at 10-10. Carrington's 13^th kill of the match gave the Sooners the advantage at 15-14. OU opened its largest lead of the set at 18-15. Back-to-back kills from Burts pushed the Sooners ahead 21-16. UCLA used a 4-0 run to make it a one-point game at 21-20, but a kill from Ellison stopped the Bruins run. The Bruins pulled even at 22 and took their first lead of the set at 23-22. A kill from Preston tied the match and OU pulled ahead to set point at 25-24 on another Preston kill. UCLA pulled even at 25 and a kill gave the Bruins set point before taking the set 27-25.

The Sooners will return to the court to open Big 12 play with the Red River Rivalry next weekend. OU and Texas will face off on Sept. 22 and 23 at 6 p.m. inside McCasland Field House. Tickets can be purchased through SoonerSports.com.