Blessey Earns First SEC Honor

NORMAN — Oklahoma sophomore Elizabeth Blessey was named the SEC Specialist of the Week after posting a career-high 9.975 on vault in No. 1 OU's win over No. 2 LSU on Friday, the league office announced Tuesday.

Blessey set the tone for the Sooners, nailing her front pike half to earn a 9.975 and help OU to a 198.125 to 197.925 victory over LSU. Blessey has worked her way to a consistent spot in the vault lineup for the Sooners, who are ranked No. 1 nationally on the event.

A Mandeville, La., product, Blessey made her vault debut at the beginning of the season and has appeared in six of eight lineups for the Sooners, scoring above a 9.80 in all appearances and a 9.90-plus in three meets. She holds the No. 22 spot in the nation on vault. Her vault on Friday helped the Sooners to their nation-leading fifth 198-plus score this season and fourth in a row. Four of OU's totals of 198.000 or better have come against top-five ranked SEC opponents.

Blessey is the fourth Sooner to win an SEC weekly award this season. Addison Fatta, Ella Murphy, and Mackenzie Estep have all received honors previously.

The Sooners are back in the Lloyd Noble Center on Friday for a meet against No. 15 Auburn at 6:30 p.m. CT. The mee will be televised by SEC Network.