OU Volleyball Tops SMU

The Oklahoma volleyball team swept SMU 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-17) in its opening match of the 2012 Oklahoma Invitational on Friday at McCasland Field House.

In a career-performance, senior libero Maria Fernanda tied an Oklahoma individual match record with 25 digs in the sweep as the Sooners improved to 9-3 on the season.

Against Auburn on Sept. 10, 2011, Fernanda totaled her first three-set, 25 dig performance and inked just the second of her career tonight, this time on her home court.

Middle blocker Sallie McLaurin had seven kills off of 12 swings with no errors to hit .583 on the night. The junior led her team with five total blocks off of one solo and four block assists.

The only Sooners with more kills were freshman Kiera Holst with nine and junior Keila Rodriguez with eight.

Freshman setter Julia Doyle hit .429 against the Mustangs, successfully attacking four of her seven swings, with just one error. For the 12th straight match she led the team in assists, notching 30.

In earlier action at the Oklahoma Invitational, New Mexico defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 15-12). New Mexico improves to 11-1 and Arkansas-Little Rock falls to 4-6 on the season. Oklahoma will face Arkansas-Little Rock at noon at McCasland Field House on Saturday.

The tournament resumes Saturday at McCasland Field House at 10 a.m. with SMU squaring-off against New Mexico. The Sooners will face UALR at noon, SMU takes on UALR at 5 p.m., while Oklahoma and New Mexico close out the two-day invitational at 7 p.m.