September 20, 2000
The 23rd-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team spoiled Oklahoma's home opener Wednesday, sweeping the Sooners 15-4, 15-7, 15-9 before 284 fans at the OU Field House. The Aggies have now won two consecutive Big 12 matches since dropping the league opener to Missouri.
"I was really impressed with the way our team made a turnaround from a week ago," A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli said. "The team unity, focus and attack that we didn't have last week was all there. This is the way we wanted to play tonight, and it was very satisfying."
Senior middle blocker Heather Marshall posted two kills to stake the Aggies to an early 2-0 lead in Game 1. The Sooners responded on the strength of consecutive service aces by Jessica Barney to grab a 3-2 lead. Junior setter Jenna Moscovic and junior outside hitter Michelle Cole took advantage of OU's serve reception troubles to hold the Sooners scoreless as A&M went up by eight. Oklahoma would score once more before Cole and Marshall closed the Aggies to within one of the win. Freshman middle blocker Tara Pulaski put down a big kill to give A&M the 15-4 victory.
Game 2 saw Oklahoma ride the right arm of Cathy Cook to an early 3-0 lead before the Aggies scored the next nine points. The Sooners, behind the strong serving of Holly McMillan, got within four at 11-7. Marshall would serve A&M to game point before an OU attack error gave the Aggies the 15-7 victory. Pulaski was a force at the net, posting three blocks in the game to go along with two kills.
The Aggies continued their strong play early in Game 3, jumping out to a 6-1 lead. Barney served the Sooners to within one at 6-5 before A&M responded with the next four points to go up by five. OU would get no closer, as a kill by junior outside hitter Erin Gibson closed out the match with a 15-9 victory.
Marshall led A&M with 10 kills on the night. For the Sooners, Cook was the leading attacker with a game-high 13.
"I thought the seniors really rose to the occasion tonight," Corbelli said. "Heather [Marshall], [defensive specialist] Christy [Clark] and [setter] Claire [Harvey] all did a great job of executing. Our attack was very solid, and when we saw that we weren't making many errors, we knew it would be a successful night."
The win improves A&M to 6-3 on the year and 2-1 in Big 12 play, while OU drops to 5-5 and 0-2. The win marks the Aggies' 15th-straight against Oklahoma dating back to 1979.
A&M looks to extend a 22-match home winning streak on Saturday when they play host to Big 12 foe Colorado (5-4, 1-0). First serve at G. Rollie White Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. The Aggies then host Texas-Pan American (2-7) in a non-conference tilt on Sunday at 3 p.m.