Sooners Fall in Five-Set Battle Sunday

Sunday, September 21

Conway, Ark.

3:30 PM

University of Oklahoma

8-2,0-0SEC

Central Arkansas

3-7,0-0ASUN

Oklahoma

Central Ark.

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Sooners Fall in Five-Set Battle Sunday

September 21, 2025 | Volleyball

Box Score

NORMAN – Despite a record-breaking performance from the service line, the Oklahoma volleyball team dropped its non-conference finale to Central Arkansas in five sets, 25-19, 20-25, 18-25, 25-21, 16-14, Sunday afternoon inside the Farris Center in Conway, Ark.

The Sooners (8-2) tallied a program-record 14 service aces in the match, with nine in the first set, in the loss. Harper Hall was instrumental to the record, tallying five aces in a row in the opening frame. Emoni Bush recorded four aces, including the record-breaking 14^th in the fifth set, while Tekoa Barnes chipped in two.

Offensively, the Sooners were led by Bush's 15 kills. Three other Sooners notched double-digit kills in Kamille Gibson (12), Kelli Jo Burgess (12) and Tekoa Barnes (11). Bush, Gibson and Burgess all hit over .300 on the night, led by Burgess's .579 performance.

Central Arkansas (3-7) won the offensive battle with 63 kills on a .343 clip, led by a 20-kill night by Laci Bohanon. On the defensive side, the Sugar Bears recorded 11.0 blocks to OU's 6.0

OU took the opening frame, 25-19. Hall was the difference maker with her five-straight aces to take OU from a 19-18 lead to set point at 24-19. UCA led 15-14 at the media timeout, but an ace from Thompson tied the match at 18-18. UCA took its last lead at 19-18 as the Sooners used a 7-0 run to take the set.

In the second set, UCA took a 14-10 lead to force an early Oklahoma timeout. Out of the timeout, an 8-1 run put OU ahead 17-15 before UCA responded with a 6-1 run to take a 21-19 lead. The Sugar Bears ended the set on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-20.

UCA took the third set, 25-18, to lead the match 2-1.

A 3-1 run off three straight kills from Gibson gave the Sooners a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. OU remained in front with set point at 24-19. UCA fought off a pair of set points to force a late Oklahoma timeout. Gibson notched her 12th kill of the game to clinch the set, 25-21.

The fifth set started with a close battle as the Sooners led 8-6 at the switch. The teams traded points with OU able to keep a two-point lead before UCA pulled even at 10-all. UCA took its first lead since 6-5 at 13-12 as the Sooners called timeout. With UCA serving for match point, Bush snuck one over the net to tie the match at 14-14. Trailing 15-14, an attack error by the Sooners gave UCA the victory.

OU returns to the friendly confines of McCasland Field House to begin SEC play this weekend. OU will host LSU for the first time since 1991 on Friday, Sept. 26 before welcoming Ole Miss to the Field House on Sunday, Sept. 28, for the first time since 1993. Sunday's match will air on SEC Network at noon CT.

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