Sooners Stun No. 9 Longhorns in Epic Five-Set Thriller

Sunday, November 3

Austin, Texas

1:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

10-8,4-6SEC

Texas

12-6,7-3SEC

Oklahoma

Texas

Photo by: Brendall Vargas/University of Oklahoma

Sooners Stun No. 9 Longhorns in Epic Five-Set Thriller

November 03, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas – The river runs red.

The University of Oklahoma volleyball team took down No. 9 Texas, 25-21, 25-27, 19-25, 25-17, 15-9, in an incredible five-set thriller inside Gregory Gymnasium Sunday afternoon in the first of two Red River Rivalry matches this season.

"This was a super special moment for the program," OU head coach Aaron Mansfield said. "The players who decided to stick around were yearning for a win like this and something that feels really special to them. We haven't finished a lot of matches and I'm really proud of how we fought back."

Down 2-1 in the match, the Sooners claimed the final two sets to pull off the upset win. The victory marked the Sooners' first over a top-10 team since defeating then-No. 2 Texas in 2014, and their first win over the Longhorns since 2014.

Alexis Shelton had her best match of the season, registering 27 kills with 15 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. The junior hit at a .365 clip as she recorded her 23rd straight match with double-digit kills.

"Alexis' adrenaline was pumping," Mansfield said. "She had a little something extra in her today. I'm really proud of her and the work she's put into her game."

Another pair of Sooners added double-digit kills as Kari Geissberger and Kamille Gibson totaled 13 and 14, respectively. Gibson's defense was also on display as she notched five blocks, including three solo.

The OU defense was dominant with 16.5 blocks, its most in SEC play this season. Lydia Martyn led the way with six, while Shelton chipped in five and Kelli Jo Burgess four.

Payton Chamberlain recorded her fifth double-double of the year with 46 assists and 12 digs. Callie Kemohah was just shy of her first double-double of the year with 13 assists and eight digs.

The Sooners claimed the opening frame, 25-21. Using a 4-0 run to tie the set at 8-8, the Sooners took the lead on a block from Martyn. OU led 15-13 at the media timeout before a 3-0 Longhorn run gave Texas a 16-15 lead. OU would regain the lead at 17-16 and never look back. Geissberger gave the Sooners set point at 24-19 and Texas claimed two quick points, but a kill from Shelton clinched the set.

OU put up an impressive comeback in the second set, but fell short, 27-25. After trailing by as many as six, the Sooners used a 7-1 run to take a 24-23 lead. The teams traded points before Texas tied the match at 1-1.

The Longhorns took a 2-1 lead in the match after taking set three, 25-19. OU jumped out to an 8-5 advantage in the fourth, before Texas pulled even at 8-8. The teams would trade points to a 13-13 tie and Texas pulled ahead 15-13 at the media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Sooners used a 5-0 run to take an 18-15 lead. OU ended the match on a 12-2 run as Martyn's seventh kill secured the fourth set, 25-17.

Oklahoma took a 4-1 lead in the fifth to force a Texas timeout. Out of the timeout, the Longhorns used a 3-0 run to tie the match at 4-all, but the Sooners responded to lead 8-4 at the switch. Shelton continued her dominant performance, coming from out of nowhere with a huge kill to put the Sooners up 10-6. OU stayed in front and took a seven-point lead for match point. Texas fought off two points, but Geissberger put the icing on the cake with her 13th kill to clinch the upset victory.

The Sooners and Longhorns will meet again Friday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m. at McCasland Field House in Norman.

OU next hits the road for a pair of matches in Mississippi this weekend. The Sooners take on Ole Miss on Friday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. in Oxford before facing Mississippi State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Starkville.

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