Aug. 27, 2011
Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. -
The Missouri State volleyball team concluded play at the Nike Oklahoma Invitational Saturday evening with a 3-1 loss to 16th-ranked Oklahoma. The Bears (2-1) matched the 3-0 Sooners through two sets before eventual falling 22-25, 30-28, 18-25, 21-25.
Oklahoma closed the first set on a 6-1 run to overcome Missouri State's late 21-19 lead. The set was tied six times to a 14-14 score when the Bears went on a 3-1 run to lead 17-15. Oklahoma tied it again at 17-all and Karen Rivatto slammed back-to-back kills after two more ties for a 21-19 MSU advantage. OU scored the next three points and another Rivatto kill tied things at 22 before the Sooners scored the final three points.
The Bears trailed early in the second set before using a 4-0 run to earn an 11-11 tie. The Sooners regained control at 16-13, and Missouri State scored the next two points to pull within a point before five side outs got the score to 19-17 and OU's Caitlin Higgins held serve with an ace for a 20-17 lead in favor of the home team. Missouri State fought back for ties at 21-through-25 before taking the 26-25 lead on a Rivatto kill after Calli Norman's kill fended off an OU set point. The Sooners denied the Bears three set point chances before MSU converted on the fourth to tie the match at 1-1.
The Sooners seized control of the third set early at 8-4 and the Bears got only as close as 9-8 the rest of the way. OU landed 15 kills in the set and gained four points at the service line thanks to two aces and two MSU errors in the period. Missouri State served to open the fourth and the teams sided out eight times before OU's Sallie McLaurin hit three straight kills for a 6-4 Sooner lead. OU went up 8-5 when the Bears answered with a 4-0 run to a 9-8 advantage. Christine McCartney's fifth kill of the set put the Bears up 13-11, but the Sooners responded with a 5-1 run to take a two-point lead of their own at 16-14. The momentum swings continued as McCartney hammered two more kills as part of a 3-0 run to get the lead back at 18-17, and the Sooners followed with another 3-0 spurt to again lead at 20-18. Missouri State forced a 20-20 tie but again watched the Sooners pull away late in a repeat of the first set.
The Bears were plagued at the service line, committing eight errors while the Sooners served eight aces. OU hit .230 to MSU's .191 and out-blocked the Bears 13-7.
McCartney hit .406 with 16 kills, and Rivatto added 15 as the other Bear in double figures. Ashley Mason had 25 digs to lead a cast of four Bears in double figures.
Norman and McCartney made the all-tournament team as the Bears placed second in the event.
The Bears return to action against UC Riverside on Friday (Sept. 2) at 7 p.m. at the USD Invitational in San Diego, Calif. MSU also plays Northeastern and No. 20 San Diego while on the west coast.
