9/24/03

Texas 3, Oklahoma 0

» Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Texas volleyball team defeated Oklahoma, 3-0 (30-26, 30-28, 30-18), in a Big 12 Conference match-up on Wednesday night before 419 fans in the Sooners' McCasland Fieldhouse. Junior All-American Mira Topic (Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia/Vladimir Nazor) paced a balanced Longhorns attack with 13 kills, while junior Bethany Howden (Austin, Texas/Westlake) added 12 and junior Kathy Hahn (Leander, Texas/Leander) had nine.

With the victory, Texas (6-5, 2-1 Big 12) improved to 24-0 all-time against Oklahoma (8-6, 0-2 Big 12). The Longhorns used a .293 hitting percentage in the win, while holding the Sooners to a .185 mark. OU's Joanna Schmitt had a match-high 15 kills for the hosts.

"We showed really good patience tonight," Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said after the match. "I was pleased with our passing, which made great strides tonight. We worked hard in practice all week to improve our passing and the time and effort we put into it showed in tonight's match. It was a good match tonight and Oklahoma has improved considerably since we last saw them."

"The nice thing about tonight's match was that we really saw a relationship developing between our setter Jenny (Andrew) and Kathy (Hahn). Kathy only has been back for several matches now and she's comfortably working her way back into the system now. Having that added comfort level will allow us to balance the offense a little more."

Texas won the first game, 30-26, after using a run of 13-3 to come from behind midway through the game. The Longhorns were facing a 14-9 deficit, before UT made its move. Both Topic and Hahn had four kills in the game, while Brandy Magee (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley) had two aces.

In the second, Texas again rallied from behind, this time from a 13-7 deficit. After the Longhorns pulled to within one point at 22-21, UT closed the game on a 6-2 run. Topic added five kills in the game, while Howden had four.

After tying the score at 14-14 in the third game, the Longhorns used a 12-2 run to close the game and take the match. Texas benefited from a .533 hitting percentage in the final stanza, while limiting the Sooners to .139.

A trio of freshmen Jenny Andrew (Houston, Texas/Kingwood), Jessica Curtis (Marietta, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) and Magee each had four blocks in the match. Sophomore libero Erin Larson (San Antonio, Texas/Ronald Reagan) had seven digs to lead the Longhorns.

Texas out-blocked Oklahoma 8.0 to 5.0 and had eight aces to the Sooners' three.

The OU match marked the Longhorns' first road match in eight matches, and their first Big 12 Conference away match of the season. It was also OU's first home match of the year after playing their first 13 on the road.

Texas returns to action on Friday, Sept. 26 when Houston travels to Gregory Gym for a 5:30 p.m. contest. Fans can follow the match online with live stats available at www.TexasSports.com. Longhorns fans attending the match who bring a picture of their family pet will receive $2.00 off a general admission ticket. Also, youths in eighth grade or younger will receive $2.00 off a general admission ticket.