Nov. 9, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri volleyball team (12-12 Overall, 6-8 Big 12) faced off against the Oklahoma Sooners (10-14 Overall, 6-10 Big 12) after a week of rest on Sunday and were successful in a sweep of the Sooners (25-15, 25-17, 25-20). Junior Lauren Nuckolls (Overland Park, Kan.) had a breakout game, leading the team in with a career-high 19 kills on a .436 hitting strike (19-2-39).
Nuckolls' performance broke her previous best career-high of 12, set in a five-set win over St. John's on September 6.
Lei Wang (Shanghai, China) and Amanda Hantouli (Omaha, Neb.) led the team with four blocks apiece. Wang also spread 39 assists and added six kills to go along with 14 digs and four blocks.
Julianna Klein and Weiwen Wang scored eight kills apiece while Caitlyn Vann was stellar in tabbing 20 digs and an ace. Frosh Pricilla Armendariz also chipped in 10 digs.
The Tigers had three service aces and outhit the Sooners .300 to .120, and was tough at the net, outblocking OU 9-3.
The Tigers looked to have benefited from their long rest by opening the first set strong. Every Mizzou player had their hand in building a steady lead against the Sooners. Hantouli, Weiwen Wang (Nanjing, China) and L Wang had two important blocks apiece to bump the score to a 13-7 lead before Oklahoma finally called a timeout. The Tigers continued to make it look easy stretching the lead to 17-9 with help from an ace from Caitlyn Vann (Muncie, Ind.). The Tigers took their largest lead at 24-13, which was also the set point. The Sooners managed to score two more points but Mizzou closed out the set at 25-15.
Mizzou continued to look strong opening the set in the lead. Nuckolls continued to play well after leading the team with kills, 5 in the first set. The Sooners started to sneak back into the set and led the Tigers 5-6. The teams continued to swap leads throughout the set until the Tigers pulled ahead 12-9. Annie Lopez scored an ace to make it 20-15. Missouri easily closed out the set 25-17.
The Oklahoma Sooners scored the first point of the set and never held the lead again. Both teams opened up the set with dueling points and neither team was able to gain any momentum. The largest lead of the beginning of the set was two when the Tigers were up 10-8. Oklahoma quickly tied it back up at 11-11. Missouri finally maintained a lead and gradually built a lead of 19-16 forcing a Sooner timeout. W Wang had an ace to continue to build the lead. The Tigers closed out the set and match 25-20 thanks to a net violation by the Sooners.
The next game is on November 12 when the Tigers take on Big 12 North rivals Nebraska. The game will be televised on CBS College Sports at 6:30.
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