by OXFORD, Miss. –Payton Chamberlain reached 3,000 career assists and Alexis Shelton recorded the 1,000th kill of her career as the Oklahoma volleyball team topped Ole Miss, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10, Friday afternoon.
Shelton’s 1,000th kill was a special one as the junior clinched the match with her 21st kill of the game. The junior has now recorded three-straight matches with at least 20 kills and 24-straight with at least 10 kills.
Chamberlain came into the day needing just 24 assists to break 3,000 for her career and finished her night with 44, her 12th match of the season with 40-plus assists.
Lydia Martyn and Kari Geissberger each recorded double-digit kills on the night with 10 apiece. Martyn added six blocks, while Geissberger chipped in five.
Callie Kemohah was a dig shy of her season high, recorded 24 for her second match with 20-plus digs this year.
Ole Miss took the first set, 25-16, as the Sooners managed just a .034 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
OU took an early 6-5 lead in the second set as Shelton recorded a quick four kills to open the set. After The Rebels took an 11-8 lead, the Sooners came back to take the lead at 13-12 off a block from Shelton. At the media timeout, Ole Miss led 15-14, but the Sooners were quick to take the lead at 16-15 as Sydney Thompson notched the first service ace of the match for OU. A 7-2 run to end the set tied the match at one set apiece up as OU took the second, 25-20.
Chamberlain’s milestone assist came in the third set to give the Sooners a 13-11 lead. Ole Miss stayed within striking distance, but the Sooners were able to maintain their lead, pulling out to a four-point advantage at 23-19. A Rebel error gave OU the 24-19 lead and despite Ole Miss fending off two set points, OU claimed the third 25-21.
After a back-and-forth start to the set, Ole Miss took a 15-10 lead it would not relinquish. The Rebels ultimately took the set, 25-21.
In the fifth, OU took a 7-3 lead to force an Ole Miss timeout. Out of the break, the Rebels used a 5-0 run to take the lead at 8-7. The Sooners responded with a 3-0 run of their own to take a two-point lead, but Ole Miss quickly responded to tie it up once again. A 5-0 run, capped off with Shelton’s 1,000th career kill gave OU the 15-10 victory and the match.
