In their regular season finale, the Sooners fell to TCU in straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. TCU led OU in four of the six major categories with the Sooners leading the Horned Frogs in blocks (6-3) and digs (36-31. The Sooners concluded the regular season with a 7-6 home record and 15-13 overall, while TCU improved to 11-4 in league play and 16-10 overall.
Sophomore Megan Wilson and freshman Taylor Preston led the offense with 12 and 11 kills each. Wilson's kill total for the season is now 368, moving up to eighth overall in the record books for kills in a single season. Preston also notched her 13th match on the season in double-digit kills.
Sophomore Callie Kemohah led the defense with 12 digs, while adding an ace on the night to move up to sixth in program history for service aces in a single season with 29. Junior Kelsey Carrington stepped in to lead the team with four blocks. Wilson and sophomore Payton Chamberlain both added seven digs each, while Chamberlain also posted 32 assists on the night.
The Horned Frogs started off the opening set strong with a 4-1 run, but the Sooners eventually took the lead early, 5-4, after back-to-back kills from Preston. Back-to-back kills from Wilson extended OU's lead 12-8 and were able to maintain the lead 15-12 going into the media timeout. TCU went on an impressive 9-0 run highlighted by TCU senior Audrey Nalls three-straight service aces to put the Horned Frogs on top, 21-17. The Sooners went on a 3-0 run highlighted by kills from Wilson (two) and freshman Alexis Shelton (one) to cut the lead by two, 24-22, and force a TCU timeout. The Horned Frogs took the opening set, 25-22.
The Sooners and Horned Frogs battled at the start of the second before OU went on a 4-0 run to take the lead 11-7. Before the media timeout, the Sooners would extend their lead, 15-9, after a 3-0 run. TCU came back strong with a 6-0 run to tie the set, 15-15. The Horned Frogs took back the lead, 21-17, after a 4-0 run to force a Sooners timeout. TCU would close out the set and take it, 25-22.
In a back-and-forth battle, the Sooners had an early 7-6 lead in the third and final set, but Baylor went on a 4-0 run to take the lead 11-9. The Horned Frogs would go on another 4-0 run to extend their lead, 15-11, going into the media timeout. After the break, TCU maintained the lead 19-15 after a 3-0 run to force an OU timeout. The Horned Frogs took the final set, 25-21, to take the match.
Seniors Savannah Davison, Adria Oliver and Grace Talpash were honored in a ceremony after the match for their dedication and accomplishments both on and off the court through the years. In addition, former player-turned team manager Rylie Gregston, along with support staff – Caraleigh Freund (graduate assistant) and Chandler Church (student athletic trainer), where honored for their contributions to the program.
"Man, I think the competitive spirit is at an all-time high," head coach Lindsey Gray-Walton said. "What we learned this season is success takes time and is process oriented. This group really did buy into it, and I hope that they can find a way to re-engage and kind of dive deeper into that … because then, we're a scary group."
The NCAA Tournament team field will be announced on Selection Sunday tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
"We've earned some time to rest and also recognize what we have done because we have done a lot with this young group," Gray-Walton noted.
