Sooners Host Missouri Sunday Afternoon

NORMAN – A rivalry is renewed as the Sooners welcome former Big 12 rival and now Southeastern Conference foe Missouri back to McCasland Field House for a Sunday afternoon matchup. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. start on SEC Network+.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 27
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Opponent: Missouri
Watch: SEC Network +
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

WEDNESDAY REWIND
The Oklahoma volleyball team picked up its first sweep in SEC play, taking down Alabama 25-11, 25-20, 25-12, Wednesday night inside McCasland Field House. The Sooners had one of their best defensive performances of the season, limiting the Crimson Tide to just 23 kills on a -.032 clip, while putting up 16.0 blocks.

Alexis Shelton led all players with 11 kills, her 21st-straight match with double-digit kills. The junior also added three digs and four blocks. Kari Geissberger notched an impressive .462 hitting percentage with eight kills and added a season-high seven blocks. Payton Chamberlain recorded 29 assists to go with three digs and three blocks. Callie Kemohah notched 18 digs, while picking up three assists. From behind the service line, Sydney Thompson tallied three aces.

RIVALRY RENEWED
For the first time since 2011, the Sooners and Tigers will face off as conference rivals. Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 40-32, and the teams split their last two meetings in 2011 with the Sooners winning 3-2 in Norman and the Tigers winning 3-0 in Columbia. The two teams have not met in regular season and postseason play since Missouri's final year in the Big 12. Missouri is one of two former Big 12 teams the Sooners will be reunited with in the SEC, joining A&M who OU will face in November.

MILESTONES IN THE MAKING
Senior setter Payton Chamberlain is nearing in on an impressive career milestone. The Roanoke, Texas, native needs just 120 assists to reach the 3,000-career mark. Chamberlain is averaging 41 sets per match this season and 10.49 per set and should easily reach 3,000 this season.

Junior outside hitter Alexis Shelton is nearing a milestone of her own, closing in on the 1,000 career kills mark. Shelton currently sits at 929 for her career, needing just 71 to hit the milestone. The senior is averaging 17 kills/match and 4.25 per set on the season.

HOME SWEET HOME
OU will host just eight games inside the Field House in 2024, welcoming Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas and Auburn. Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas are all familiar with Norman after years spent in the Big 12 Conference, while Tennessee and Florida made their first trips to Norman this season.

The Sooners have played just four matches inside the Field House in 2024 and are 2-2 in those matches. After Sunday's match, the Sooners will have just three matches at home in their remaining seven games.

WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY
The Sooners defense has been a force to be reckoned with this season, recording at least eight blocks in 14 matches this season. Against Tulsa on Sept. 13, the Sooners put up an impressive 20.0 blocks, the most by a Sooner squad since tallying 19.0 against Kansas State in 2020. OU has recorded at least 7.0 blocks in every match this year and reached the double-digit mark on eight occasions. In conference play the Sooners are second in blocks/set at 2.71, and first in all matches with 2.83 per set.

STATS & RANKINGS
Despite their record, the Sooners are statistically one of the top teams in conference games. OU ranks second in hitting percentage (.278) and fifth in assists (12.35) and kills (13.00/set). Lydia Martyn is first in hitting percentage (.440), while Kari Geissberger ranks 10^th (.341). Payton Chamberlain is fifth in assists (10.12) and KJ Burgess in ninth in blocks (1.11).

THE OPPOSITION
MISSOURI: Missouri enters Sunday's match with a 13-5 record and 4-2 in SEC play. Before heading to Norman, the Tigers will take on Arkansas in Fayetteville. The Tigers rank first in the SEC for assists per set (13.75, first in NCAA), hitting percentage (.304, fifth in NCAA), kills per set (14.60, third in the NCAA), assists (894) and kills (949). Mizzou is also second in the conference for aces (132, 2.03 aces/set, 11th).

LOOKING AHEAD
It's time for the Red River Rivalry as the Sooners head South of the Red River for the first of two matchups with Texas. The Sooners and Longhorns will face off on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. in Austin.

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