Sooners Drop Four-Set Match to Knights

Friday, September 29

Orlando, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

6-7,0-4Big 12

UCF

13-2,4-0Big 12

Oklahoma

UCF

Photo by: Morgan Givens, OU Athletics

Sooners Drop Four-Set Match to Knights

September 29, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score Game Book

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Oklahoma volleyball team dropped a four-set match 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 24-26, to UCF Friday night in Orlando, Fla.

Alexis Shelton led all players with 20 kills on the night, filling the stat sheet with eight digs, three blocks and one assist. It was Shelton's fourth 20-kill performance of the season.

Lydia Burts also stuffed her stat sheet with five kills, five digs and six blocks, including three solo. Hannah Pfiffner tied her career high with 10 kills on a .421 clip. Kelsey Carrington added seven kills on a .429 clip and Taylor Preston notched eight kills and four blocks.

Payton Chamberlain tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 10 digs. Callie Kemohah recorded a season-high 17 digs to go with two assists and a service ace. Mele Corral-Blagojevich added 10 digs of her own and one service ace.

With setter Chamberlain back in the starting lineup, the Sooners came out firing offensively and raced to a 9-5 lead. The Knights tied the match at 14-all before an ace from Chamberlain put OU back in front 16-15. OU used a 4-1 run to take a 23-20 lead, but the Knights used a 5-0 run to take the first set 25-23.

UCF opened the second set on a 5-1 run before pulling ahead 13-8. Back-to-back kills from Shelton and Chamberlain closed the gap to three at 13-10. UCF extended its lead out to 17-10, ultimately taking the set 25-18.

OU jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the third. The Knights pulled within two, but Burts' fifth block of the night pushed the Sooners out to a 10-7 lead. A huge block from Chamberlain put the Sooners ahead 16-11, forcing a UCF timeout. The Knights came back to tie the set at 18-all and took the lead on a 5-0 scoring run. Kills from Burts and Shelton put the Sooners back in front, 23-22 and a UCF error gave OU the third set, 25-23.

The Knights took a 6-3 lead in the fourth, but the Sooners used kills from Preston and Pfiffner to take a 7-6 lead. UCF pulled ahead at 16-15, but Pfiffner's 10^th kill tied the match at 16-all. The Knights took a three-point lead late at 22-19 and the Sooners fought back to make it 23-22. OU staved off one match point, but UCF took the final set 26-24.

The Sooners return to McCasland Field House Saturday, Oct. 7, to take on BYU. The match will start at 2 p.m. and admission is free for Fan Appreciation Day.