University of Missouri
Oklahoma
Tigers Drop Match to No. 21 Oklahoma
11/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 21, 2007
NORMAN, Okla. - The Missouri volleyball team (16-12, 9-10 Big 12) lost to No. 21 Oklahoma (21-8, 13-6 Big 12), 30-25, 30-26, 30-25 in Norman. Freshman Weiwen Wang led the Tigers with 16 kills on .273 hitting. Due to lineup configurations, freshman defensive specialist Caitlyn Vann played outside hitter in game three, collecting six kills for the Tiger cause.
Vann (Muncie, Ind.), playing for a ailing Catie Wilson and Megan Wilson, helped the Tigers comeback from 10 points down in game three to pull the Tigers within three of the nationally-ranked Tigers.
Senior Na Yang added 10 kills and 14 digs for her eighth career double-double. Yang now stands 19 kills from tying Mizzou's single-season record in the category.
Senior Tatum Ailes added a team-high 16 digs, while sophomore setter Lei Wang collected a double-double with 38 assists and 11 digs as part of Mizzou's reinstallation of the 5-1 offense.
The Tigers used a team-high 12 players in the match as freshman Lauren Nuckolls saw her first playing time of the season, recording one kill as a Tiger outside hitter.
Despite a 10-point deficit in game one, down 19-9, the Tigers pulled within three at 24-21 after a hitting barrage by Weiwen Wang who placed seven kills in the first frame. Oklahoma scored on three of the next four to gain some comfort with a 27-22 lead. The Sooners closed the game, winning 30-25. Mizzou was outhit .149 to .295 in the frame.
The Tigers fought to a 13-11 lead early on, but a 6-1 OU run would force Mizzou to use its first timeout at 17-14. The Sooners wouldn't look back as Marianna Blum and Francie Ekwerekwu fired kill-after-kill to take the game 30-26. Oklahoma continued to hit efficiently, marking .304 in the frame.
Mizzou down 17-7 in the third frame initiated a lineup change. Defensive specialist Caitlyn Vann was tapped to play the outside hitter spot and accumulated six kills as the Tigers fought back to close within three points several times. However, Oklahoma closed the game, winning 30-25.
The Tigers will conclude the regular season Saturday against Colorado in the Hearnes Center. Senior recognitions will precede the 1 p.m., start time.
