Sooners Down Commodores in Four Friday Night

Friday, October 3

Nashville, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Vanderbilt

Sooners Down Commodores in Four Friday Night

October 03, 2025 | Volleyball

Box Score

NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Oklahoma volleyball team picked up its first SEC road win of the season with a four-set victory over Vanderbilt, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-23, Friday night in Nashville, Tenn.

Oklahoma (10-3, 2-1 SEC) dropped the first set before winning the next three to down Vanderbilt (4-8, 0-3 SEC) in the first ever meeting between the two squads.

Alexis Shelton led the way for OU with 18 kills on a .304 clip to go with five digs and two blocks. Emoni Bush was just shy of her second double-double of the season, recording 13 kills, nine digs, five blocks and two aces.

As a team, OU notched 10 service aces with Tekoa Barnes recording three and Kamille Gibson and Whitney Wallace each recording a pair. The team also notched 11.0 blocks as Kelli Jo Burgess led the way with seven, including three solo.

At setter, Avaya Maga was a dig shy of a double-double with 17 assists and nine digs. Harper Hall added 19 assists and four digs.

Vanderbilt took the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead in the match. At the first media timeout, the first set had already seen 10 ties with OU narrowly leading 15-14. The Sooners took the largest lead of the set at 17-14, but the Commodores responded with a 4-0 scoring run to take the lead at 19-18. A solo block and kill from Burgess tied the match at 21-all. An overturned call put Vanderbilt in front 22-21. Down 24-21, the Sooners fought off a pair of set points but dropped the set 25-23.

After Vanderbilt opened the second set with the first point, the Sooners used a 5-0 run to take a 5-1 lead. OU extended the lead to 8-4 off a Kenadie Patterson kill. A 3-0 run, highlighted by Burgess's third solo block of the night gave OU an 11-7 advantage. Leading 14-10, errors plagued the Sooners as Vanderbilt pulled within one at 14-13 to force a Sooner timeout. The Commodores tied the set at 16-16 and the Sooners used an ace from Sydney Thompson to go up 18-16. A 5-0 run late in the set put OU up six and the Sooners closed it out 25-18.

The Sooners took a 2-1 lead in the match behind a gritty 25-23 win in the third set. A 5-0 scoring run had OU in front 7-3 early, before Vanderbilt clawed back to make it a one-point game at 11-10. Back-to-back aces from Whitney Wallace in a 4-0 scoring run gave the Sooners breathing room at 16-11. Bush's ninth kill of the match had OU up 21-17 but Vanderbilt closed the gap at 21-20. With the match tied at 21-21, a pivotal challenge from head coach Aaron Mansfield made the score 23-21. Shelton gave the Sooners set point at 24-22 and clinched the set with her 10th kill of the night.

Vanderbilt took a 12-9 lead behind a 3-0 run early in the fourth set. Behind the arm of Shelton, the Sooners fought back to pull within one at 15-14. A triple block sparked a mini run as OU took an 18-17 lead. Shelton threw down back-to-back kills to give OU a late lead, 22-20, and force a Vanderbilt timeout. Vanderbilt tied the set at 22-22 but an error and block by Gibson and Patterson gave OU match point. The Commodores fought off match point, but a service error gave OU the 25-23 win and the match.

OU is back in action on Sunday at No. 21 Missouri. The match is slated for a 2 p.m. CT start.