Volleyball Has Strong Start In Tourney Opener At Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. - TSU put a scare into Big 12 member Oklahoma with a solid first set in a 3-0 loss on Friday afternoon.
 
It was 5-5 in the opening set before a 4-1 run by OU upped the score to 9-6 but TSU countered as Danielle Lilley had a kill and ace to get TSU within 10-9. Amber Johnson's kill tied the set at 10-all which began a back-and-forth affair as TSU closed the gap to 17-16 after Thalia Cordero Moreno's kill. The teams traded points once again but OU went on a 3-0 surge for a 21-17 lead but an assisted block by Taryn Stafford and Cordero Moreno followed by an OU bad set moved TSU within 21-19. However, OU scored four of the next five points to pull away 25-20.
 
OU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set two but TSU regrouped and pulled within 9-5. The Sooners went on a 6-1 run for a 15-6 lead and never looked back as they won set two 25-11.
 
Five TSU attack errors fueled a 9-1 run by OU to open set three but TSU answered and cut its deficit to 12-5. OU came back with an 11-2 run to put the match out of reach as they claimed a 25-9 win.
 
Johnson and Brea Rutledge led TSU with five kills each followed by 10 assists from Dallas Balanay-Flores and seven digs from Kaitlyn Scroggins.
 
TSU is back in action at 11 a.m. Saturday against Nevada.