CU Falls To No. 21 Oklahoma in Four

Wednesday, October 24

Boulder, Colo.

6:30 p.m.

Colorado

Oklahoma

October 24, 2007 | Volleyball

By: Megan Buckley, Student Assistant SID

BOULDER - Lauren Schaefer set two career highs with 24 kills and 50 attacks, hitting a game-high .400, but it wasn't enough to beat the No. 21 Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners beat the Buffs 3-1 on Wed., Oct. 24 at the Coors Events Center. Game scores were 27-30, 30-24, 29-31 and 25-30.

“We're learning and I think we're getting better,” Schaefer said. “It's frustrating. I see how hard our team practices and how good of a team we really are and sometimes it just doesn't make it out to the court for a match that really matters. Everyone is working really hard and sacrificing so much to win but we just haven't found it.”

This game marks the twelfth straight loss for the Buffs as they fell to 0-12 in the Big-12 and they are 5-15 overall. The losing streak is the longest in CU volleyball history.

“It's all about making the plays at the right moment,” said Schaefer. “We can play great up until it's 29-29, and then when it comes to that final point when it really matters we don't get it. That's something that has to come from inside of every person on the team. We want to be laying everything out on the court so we can think afterwards that we did everything we could. I just came out and tried to do my part for the team and work hard, it's the game that I love and I try to put everything into it.”

After losing in the first game, the Buffs held off the Sooners in game two. The score was tied five times and the teams exchanged the lead four times, but CU won 30-24. However, despite being tied nine times in the third game, OU took the victory, edging the Buffs 31-29. The fourth game belonged to the Sooners, who let their lead slip only once.

“We have to keep our heads up, keep working hard and keep grinding away,” head coach Pi'I Aiu said. “Lauren Schaefer had an outstanding night tonight. But it's unfortunate to have 10 service errors. We have to find a way to play consistently, and to play every part of our game consistently. We can focus on one thing in practice and do pretty well, but then something else falls off.”

Schylur Edelman topped her career high in kills, dishing out 12 over her previous record of nine. She also hit 26 attacks, good for .269 in the match. Kirsten Wicks managed 14 attacks, dwarfing her previous career-high of one. She also bested her previous career-high record of one kill, recording five in tonight's match.

“All I know is we're working hard and I'm really proud of these kids and how they have responded to this season in terms of how we're competing,” said Aiu. “I think the opportunity is going to come to turn this around and we have to be ready to take it and be ready to fight. Schaefer was really good tonight; we did a really nice job of getting her the ball at the right time and in places where she could do what she did.”

Colorado hit .243, with 67 kills on 173 attacks, topping Oklahoma, who hit .186 with 61 kills on 167 attacks. The Buffs came close to the Sooners with 63 digs, but OU managed to total 68.

Colorado got a boost from Mallori Gibson in the third game, whose three consecutive service aces brought CU up from 19 to 22 during the third game. She recorded a game-high total of four service aces.

It was the first “Dig For The Cure” night at Coors Events Center. Each Colorado dig raised money to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Colorado will now face off against Texas on Saturday, October 27 at 3 p.m at the Coors Events Center. CU will host it is second annual Trick-or-Treat Street at the match. Student-athletes from other CU teams will hand out candy on the concourse beginning at 2 p.m. Fans in costume will receive free admission.

--COLORADO--