MATCH STATS
- #9 Kansas def. Oklahoma 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 25-11)
- #9 Kansas improves to 16-2 (5-0, Big 12); Oklahoma drops to 4-14 (1-4, Big 12)
- Norman, Oklahoma (Big 12 Match)
- Attendance: 617
- Box Score
Norman, Oklahoma – Kansas went on the road in Big 12 play and earned a 3-1 win over Oklahoma behind a strong and balanced offense. The win keeps the Jayhawks unbeaten in conference play while Oklahoma falls to 1-4.
The offense was clicking on all cylinders for Kansas as Ainise Havili logged 46 assists (to go with 14 digs, four blocks) for the offense. While Kelsie Payne (13 kills, .333, nine digs), Jada Burse (nine kills, .292) and Madison Rigdon (eight kills, nine digs, three blocks) impressed on the pins, it was the Jayhawks in the middle who were truly unstoppable.
Sophomore middle blockers Mmachi Nwoke (11 kills, five blocks) and Zoe Hill (10 kills, five blocks) combined for an amazing 21 kills on just 27 swings with no errors. That works out to be a .778 hitting percentage between the two in the middle in addition to their 10 total blocks on defense.
Right off the bat, Kansas would hit a blistering .567 in the opening set as things were relatively even at 16-14. From there, Kansas went on a 9-4 run to close things out and take the first set on the road. Hill posted five kills in the first set alone, en route to her strong performance.
Oklahoma had a strong start to the second as well, leading 13-12 behind Alyssa Enneking (16 kills, 11 digs) and Morgan Miller (14 kills, 11 digs). However, a 4-0 Kansas spurt gave the Jayhawks just enough cushion in what would overall be a 13-6 finish to the second game that gave Kansas a 2-0 lead.
In set three, Oklahoma didn’t just stay close early, but were in front a majority of the time. Kansas did use four unanswered to tie things at 18, and as the two teams exchanged points Oklahoma earned a 25-24 lead after a Madison Drescher kill – one of 12 on the day for her. Originally Kansas tied the match at 25 on a Payne swing that went out with a touch, but on review the officials changed the decision of the touch to give the Sooners the set 26-24.
Kansas would not be rattled and responded well off the set loss by taking the first four points of the fourth. That was only indicative of what was to come, as Kansas jumped in front 18-11 and exploded for the final seven points of the match to earn the 3-1 victory.
In total for the match, Kansas hit .333 to Oklahoma’s .122. Where the Sooners had the advantage in digs (58-53) and aces (4-3), the Jayhawks garnered more of an edge in blocks (12-2).
Next up, Kansas has the clash of Big 12 heavyweights with Texas on Wednesday for their only match of the week. It’s a one-match week for Oklahoma as well with a road tilt in Morgantown against West Virginia on Friday.
PRESS RELEASES:
NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma volleyball team fell to No. 11 Kansas, 3-1, at McCasland Field House on Saturday night. The Sooners fell behind two sets to none before keeping the match alive with a 26-24 win in the third, but the Jayhawks claimed the victory with a 25-11 decision in the fourth.
The two sides went back-and-forth through the midway part of each of the first two sets. OU trailed just 15-13 in the first and second before KU pulled away for wins of 25-18 and 25-19.
Sooner junior outside hitter Alyssa Enneking (League City, Texas) led all players with 16 kills and added 11 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Morgan Miller (Magnolia, Texas) chipped in with her fourth double-double on a 14-kill, 11-dig effort. Fellow junior outside hitter Madison Drescher (Southlake, Texas) was also in double figures with 12 kills.
Kelsie Payne led three Jayhawks in double digits with 13 kills on a .333 attack rate to go with nine digs. Mmachi Nwoke contributed 11 digs and player error-free with a .786 hitting percentage and five blocks. Zoe Hill was also error-free as she hit .769 with 10 kills and five blocks.
KU setter Ainise Havili dished out 46 assists and picked up 14 digs. OU junior setter Audrey Alford (Norman, Okla.) collected 35 assists and seven digs. Redshirt-junior libero Rachel Manriquez (Edmond, Okla.) totaled a team-high 12 digs for the Sooners.
Oklahoma is back in action on Friday, October 13 at West Virginia.
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