No. 10 BYU is looking to get back on track after dropping back-to-back matches to the Longhorns in Austin last weekend.
Outside Hitters Erin Livingston and Eden Bower led each match with 16 and 13 kills, respectively. Following close behind were Middle Blockers Kate Prior and Whitney Llarenas-McEwan notching a combined 11 and 17 kills, respectively, in the back-to-back matches. Llarenas-McEwan also totaled six blocks in the series alongside true freshman, Mia Lee, leading the way with 10 total blocks.
Veteran setter, Whitney Bower, assisted on 30 and 35 possessions in the two-game series, making her BYU’s new career assist leader, surpassing Lauren Richards Evans (4,056 assists). She now has 4,076 assists and counting in her five-year career with the Cougars.
BYU continues its series of road games as they matchup with the Sooners in Oklahoma for the first time since 1996 and will be the first meeting between these two teams in the Heather Olmstead coaching era. Oklahoma is one of 13 new teams Olmstead, and her crew will face in this inaugural season of the Big 12.
Oklahoma currently sits at 6-7 on the year and 0-4 in Big 12, while BYU is coming in at 13-3 on the year and 2-2 in Big12 play so far.
The Cougars lead the longstanding 7-game series 5-2 and are undefeated in Norman as they look to bring home win number six this weekend. Both teams are looking to snap their current losing streak and bounce back as they progress through league play.
The Sooners are under the helm of first year head coach, Aaron Mansfield, who is the former head coach of old WCC foe, LMU. BYU is no stranger to Mansfield as they face off once again, only in a new environment and conference.
Livingston looks to keep adding on to her historical season, and career for that matter, by racking up kills. She recently surpassed the 1,000-kill mark, becoming the 23rd member of the club and now sits at 1,071 and counting. This puts her ninth overall in the rally scoring era in program history.
Other notable Cougars to keep an eye on this weekend are the middle blocking duo in Lee and Llarenas-McEwan. Both respectively rank 36th and 46th nationally in total blocks and are not slowing down anytime soon.
BYU ranks second overall in the Big 12 in total blocks and service aces (68), and seventh nationally for blocks per set at 2.91.
One Sooner who, despite the team’s overall record and performance thus far, has stood out and played exceptionally well is Sophomore Outside Hitter, Alexis Shelton. It is no surprise that she was a member of the 2022 All-Big 12 Rookie Team last season.
Shelton leads the team in total kills with 201 (averaging 4.19 kills per set) on the year so far while hitting .260. She had season high 30 kill game in early September against Notre Dame. She also leads the Sooners in total points so far this season with 227 and counting.
Other notable Sooners are Middle Blocker, Lydia Burts, and Setter, Payton Chamberlain. Burts leads the way with a team high .337 hit percentage and 58 total blocks for Oklahoma while Chamberlain is the lone Sooner for assists as she stands alone with 489 on the year so far.
This game can be streamed live on ESPN+ at 2 P.M. CT on Saturday, October 7th.