The Oklahoma Sooner Volleyball Squad is hosting a day of VB at McCasland Field House today with OU playing a doubleheader at 1 PM and 7 PM against Texas Southern and Nevada respectively. Here is the staff writers article about the two matches.
https://soonersports.com/news/2022/9/15 ... slate.aspx
The Sooners are 8-2 in the preseason and have played very well of late. Four freshman have lead the way for the Sooners in the young season. Shelton and Preston as Outside Hitters, Perkins as a Middle Blocker and Kaminski, Defensive Specialist and Server, have added depth and talent to the team the Sooners are able to place on the floor. Veteran sophomores, Wilson (OH) and Kemohah (L) continue to play very well in their second season for the Sooners. Until injuries this last weekend, Oliver (5th SR-MB) and Dunn (SOPH-Setter) played well for the Sooners also. Replacing them have been Carrington (SR - MB) and Chamberlain (SOPH-Setter) who have filled in very well in the last four wins.
OU has a very good chance to complete their pre-season with a 10-2 record for a great start to 2022 with two victories today. I hope McCasland Field House is full at 1 PM and 7 PM today for their matches. Good luck to the VB ladies today!
Boomer Sooner!
Sooner Volleyball - Hosting a VB Day today in McCasland !
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OUBeliever56A
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OUBeliever56A
- Posts: 4664
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:44 am
- 2
- Location: Norman
- Has thanked: 619 times
- Been thanked: 2639 times
The Oklahoma Sooners finished their pre-Big 12 season on Friday with two impressive wins on Friday over Texas Southern and Nevada. The Sooners defeated Texas Southern Friday afternoon 25-20, 25-11 and 25-9. On Friday night, the Sooners defeated Nevada 25-13, 25-19 and 25-18. The two wins for Oklahoma moved their record to 10-2 and the best record prior to the Big 12 schedule since 2013 for the program.
In both matches the Sooners had 3 players notch double-digit points with a fourth player earning at least 7.5. Those points were spread across 5 players. That is great distribution and shows a variety of sets and attacks by the Sooners.
Here is the staff writers article about the sooner DH sweep on Friday.
https://soonersports.com/news/2022/9/16 ... -2013.aspx
Megan Wilson (OH) led the Sooners in points on Friday with 15.0 against TS and a 12.5 point effort against Nevada for 27.5 points on the day. IMO, Wilson has improved her game more than just a little bit as a sophomore after a very good freshman season in 2021. Her serving game has become an asset for the Sooners.
Freshman Morgan Perkins has given the Sooners a MB that has to be considered in any game plan. On Friday she had 15.5 points against TS and 7.5 points against Nevada for 23.0 on the day. Her quick middle attacks and her blocking game at the net give the Sooners an edge most of the time she is in the game,
Freshman Taylor Preston (OH) has shown the versatility that is a coaches dream on the floor. Like Wilson, she never leaves the game usually. She scored 9 points against TS and 13.5 against Nevada Friday for 22.5 points on the day. Again her serving game has lifted the Sooners scoring opportunities this season.
Against Texas Southern, Savannah Davison (OH) added 12.5 points as she played most all of the match. She looked like a full-time starter for the Sooners in the match but has been relegated to a sometimes starter as the season has progressed.
Against Nevada, another Freshman, Alexis Shelton (OH) added 11.5 points as she returned to her starting role for the Sooners. I expect her to continue as a starter throughout Big 12 play.
These five players for the Sooners are ale to get high above the net and deliver an attacking ball with force and accuracy as well as defend on the net on every play. The athleticism and jumping ability is something to watch and respect as you watch them play.
Two more front line players for the Sooners, Kelsey Carrington (MB) and Adria Oliver (MB) completed the rotations on the front line with Carrington adding 3.0 and 1.5 points on the day and Oliver 1.5 and 2.0 points. Oliver returned to the lineup on Friday after not playing in the last four matches. Carrington has taken her place during that stretch. Both have played well as the 2nd MB hen they play. With 4 outside hitters and 3 MB, the Sooners 90% of the time have four offensive threats on the floor which is tough to stop.
Directing all the offensive firepower for the Sooners has been two players. Peyton Dunn had started each match until they went on their West coast trip a week ago. I thought Dunn had improved her sets and her serve over her very strong freshman season in 2021. Dunn played for 1 set in Abilene on Tuesday and played 1 set on Friday against Texas Southern. It looked like an injury held her out of the action last weekend in Santa Clara. in her place, Payton Chamberlain (SOPH) has stepped in and provided very strong play for the Sooners in the last six matches. IMO, Chamberlain delivers the ball to the hitting zone or spot for the hitters very well and has the ability to cover the floor to get the ball for sets. She also has shown an ability to be an effective blocker on the outside for the Sooners on defense. Her serve is strong as well. Dunn has been a strong player for the Sooners, but we may be seeing a changing of the guard for the Sooners to Chamberlain.
Callie Kemohah (Libero) has continued her Sophomore season just as she competed her Freshman season on the court. Kemohah is foundation that the Sooners defense is built around. She is counted on to receive the majority of serves and is there consistently to dig the tough powerful attacking shot by the Sooner opponents. She is also doing a good job of delivering assist to the hitters when needed as the Setters play defense on the first hits. Her serve has also improved in 2022. Kemohah is a very strong player for the Sooners.
Another Freshman, Chloe Kaminski has made her mark as well. As a defensive specialist and server, she is filling a starting role in the rotation well. Her service game may be the second best behind Wilson for the Sooners. Early, I was not sure about Kaminski getting the paying time she was getting. But Coach Gray-Walton saw much earlier what I am now seeing as Kaminski deserves the floor time.
Other players that have had their moments in the pre-season are Grace Talpash (SR) (DS-Serve) and Sydney Thompson (Walk-On FR) (DS-Serve). Talpash stated the season as the 2nd defensive/serve player in the rotation and has played fairly well. But lately, Thompson is getting more playing time and showing good play. Her serve looks to be something that will earn her playing time. Beth Bayless (Walk-On FR) (OH) and Kristen Birmingham (SOPH) (OH) have also seen action this season. Birmingham, in her first action of the season on Friday scored 1 points and looked good at the net. Bayless has played briefly in two sets and is yet to score a point for a Sooner.
I think the Sooner Volleyball Squad has some of the same 'iron sharpens iron' effect going on that that Coach Gasso and the Sooner Softball team talks bout. The talent at practice on the floor is lifting the play of every player and making the team better every day. During the Texas Southern broadcast yesterday it was mentioned that 10 players on the Sooner VB squad can touch 10 feet vertically. That is impressive to me and shows the athletic ability of the players trying to earn playing time.
I am very excited about the upcoming Big 12 season for the Sooners. They immediately jump into the a very hot skillet as they play Texas next Friday in Austin to open Big 12 play. Texas is currently ranked as the #1 Team in the nation. So the Sooners will be the underdog in the match nest Friday. Perhaps the new-look, very athletic Oklahoma Sooners can bring some Sooner-Magic with them to Austin and delver a surprising effort which will cause the rest of the Big 12 to notice what is going on in Norman in 2022 on the VB court.
Boomer Sooner!
In both matches the Sooners had 3 players notch double-digit points with a fourth player earning at least 7.5. Those points were spread across 5 players. That is great distribution and shows a variety of sets and attacks by the Sooners.
Here is the staff writers article about the sooner DH sweep on Friday.
https://soonersports.com/news/2022/9/16 ... -2013.aspx
Megan Wilson (OH) led the Sooners in points on Friday with 15.0 against TS and a 12.5 point effort against Nevada for 27.5 points on the day. IMO, Wilson has improved her game more than just a little bit as a sophomore after a very good freshman season in 2021. Her serving game has become an asset for the Sooners.
Freshman Morgan Perkins has given the Sooners a MB that has to be considered in any game plan. On Friday she had 15.5 points against TS and 7.5 points against Nevada for 23.0 on the day. Her quick middle attacks and her blocking game at the net give the Sooners an edge most of the time she is in the game,
Freshman Taylor Preston (OH) has shown the versatility that is a coaches dream on the floor. Like Wilson, she never leaves the game usually. She scored 9 points against TS and 13.5 against Nevada Friday for 22.5 points on the day. Again her serving game has lifted the Sooners scoring opportunities this season.
Against Texas Southern, Savannah Davison (OH) added 12.5 points as she played most all of the match. She looked like a full-time starter for the Sooners in the match but has been relegated to a sometimes starter as the season has progressed.
Against Nevada, another Freshman, Alexis Shelton (OH) added 11.5 points as she returned to her starting role for the Sooners. I expect her to continue as a starter throughout Big 12 play.
These five players for the Sooners are ale to get high above the net and deliver an attacking ball with force and accuracy as well as defend on the net on every play. The athleticism and jumping ability is something to watch and respect as you watch them play.
Two more front line players for the Sooners, Kelsey Carrington (MB) and Adria Oliver (MB) completed the rotations on the front line with Carrington adding 3.0 and 1.5 points on the day and Oliver 1.5 and 2.0 points. Oliver returned to the lineup on Friday after not playing in the last four matches. Carrington has taken her place during that stretch. Both have played well as the 2nd MB hen they play. With 4 outside hitters and 3 MB, the Sooners 90% of the time have four offensive threats on the floor which is tough to stop.
Directing all the offensive firepower for the Sooners has been two players. Peyton Dunn had started each match until they went on their West coast trip a week ago. I thought Dunn had improved her sets and her serve over her very strong freshman season in 2021. Dunn played for 1 set in Abilene on Tuesday and played 1 set on Friday against Texas Southern. It looked like an injury held her out of the action last weekend in Santa Clara. in her place, Payton Chamberlain (SOPH) has stepped in and provided very strong play for the Sooners in the last six matches. IMO, Chamberlain delivers the ball to the hitting zone or spot for the hitters very well and has the ability to cover the floor to get the ball for sets. She also has shown an ability to be an effective blocker on the outside for the Sooners on defense. Her serve is strong as well. Dunn has been a strong player for the Sooners, but we may be seeing a changing of the guard for the Sooners to Chamberlain.
Callie Kemohah (Libero) has continued her Sophomore season just as she competed her Freshman season on the court. Kemohah is foundation that the Sooners defense is built around. She is counted on to receive the majority of serves and is there consistently to dig the tough powerful attacking shot by the Sooner opponents. She is also doing a good job of delivering assist to the hitters when needed as the Setters play defense on the first hits. Her serve has also improved in 2022. Kemohah is a very strong player for the Sooners.
Another Freshman, Chloe Kaminski has made her mark as well. As a defensive specialist and server, she is filling a starting role in the rotation well. Her service game may be the second best behind Wilson for the Sooners. Early, I was not sure about Kaminski getting the paying time she was getting. But Coach Gray-Walton saw much earlier what I am now seeing as Kaminski deserves the floor time.
Other players that have had their moments in the pre-season are Grace Talpash (SR) (DS-Serve) and Sydney Thompson (Walk-On FR) (DS-Serve). Talpash stated the season as the 2nd defensive/serve player in the rotation and has played fairly well. But lately, Thompson is getting more playing time and showing good play. Her serve looks to be something that will earn her playing time. Beth Bayless (Walk-On FR) (OH) and Kristen Birmingham (SOPH) (OH) have also seen action this season. Birmingham, in her first action of the season on Friday scored 1 points and looked good at the net. Bayless has played briefly in two sets and is yet to score a point for a Sooner.
I think the Sooner Volleyball Squad has some of the same 'iron sharpens iron' effect going on that that Coach Gasso and the Sooner Softball team talks bout. The talent at practice on the floor is lifting the play of every player and making the team better every day. During the Texas Southern broadcast yesterday it was mentioned that 10 players on the Sooner VB squad can touch 10 feet vertically. That is impressive to me and shows the athletic ability of the players trying to earn playing time.
I am very excited about the upcoming Big 12 season for the Sooners. They immediately jump into the a very hot skillet as they play Texas next Friday in Austin to open Big 12 play. Texas is currently ranked as the #1 Team in the nation. So the Sooners will be the underdog in the match nest Friday. Perhaps the new-look, very athletic Oklahoma Sooners can bring some Sooner-Magic with them to Austin and delver a surprising effort which will cause the rest of the Big 12 to notice what is going on in Norman in 2022 on the VB court.
Boomer Sooner!
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