October 30, 2002
Junior right-side attacker Carol Price recorded a career-high 17 kills and all 15 Aggie players saw action as Texas A&M defeated Oklahoma, 30-22, 30-21, 32-30, in front of 1,071 at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
The victory marked the Aggies 20th consecutive win against the Sooners. A&M improves to 14-7 overall and 6-6 in the Big 12, while OU suffered its eighth straight loss and falls to 4-16, 2-10.
OU held a slim 5-4 lead in the opening game when A&M reeled off six consecutive points on four kills and two blocks. The Sooners could get no closer than four points as the Aggies extended their lead to a game-high eight points at 26-28 after freshman Laura Jones put down a kill following an OU overpass. The Aggies led, 28-22, when Price put down her seventh kill of the game, and Jones ended the game with an ace.
A&M led the entire second game and was up, 3-2, when the Aggies went on a six-point run. OU could get no closer than four points as A&M built its biggest lead at 22-11 following back-to-back kills by Price. With the Aggies leading, 26-16, freshman setter Kari Kelley made her first appearance of the season as she subbed in for starter Lexy Beers and recorded an assist with her first touch as Jones put the set down for a kill. The teams traded serves and the Aggies led 28-17 when the Sooners' Denise Griffin posted consecutive kills to get within 28-19 . Kendra Felder put down a kill to put A&M at 29-19, but the Aggies prolonged the game with back-to-back errors before Beth Skypala ended the game with a kill.
The Aggies were up, 3-1, to start the third game when OU went on a 4-0 spurt. The Sooners went on to build a six-point lead at 16-10 following another four-point rally before the Aggies went on their own 5-1 run to get back within two at 17-15. OU regained its six-point lead at 20-16, 23-17, and 24-18 when the Aggies got down to business and scored six unanswered points to knot the score. Then for every point OU scored, the Aggies responded with a point. The Sooners were serving for the game at 29-28, but Price tied the score for the seventh time with a kill. An A&M attack error put the Sooners at game point again, but an OU service error and an A&M ace by Tara Pulaski gave the Aggies the lead for only the second time in the game. Griffin's ensuing attack sailed long to give A&M its 13th consecutive sweep against the Sooners.
Price, who hit .552 for the match, led a group of three other Aggies who reached double figures in kills: Pulaski and A.D. Achilefu posted 11 apiece, and Jones added 10. Beers, who directed the balanced attack, finished with 49 assists, an A&M season high for a three-game match.
Melissa Munsch and Jones led A&M in digs with 13 each, and Pulaski led the team in blocks with four.
Jennifer Mosso was the only Sooner to reach double figures in kills as she posted 10 on the night.
The Aggies hit .298 for the match, posting 64 kills and 60 assists, both season highs for a three-game match. In addition A&M tallied five aces, 63 digs and six blocks.
OU hit .164, posting 38 kills, 46 digs and five blocks.
A&M concludes its two-match home stand Saturday as the Aggies play host to the Colorado Buffaloes. Match time is at 2 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.