Broncos Lose at Oklahoma 3-0

NORMAN, Okla. - The Western Michigan women's volleyball team fell to a nationally-recognized opponent for the second straight match, and the Broncos lost 3-0 (13-25, 22-25, 18-25) to the Oklahoma Sooners in their second match of the 2012 Oklahoma Nike Invitational. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 0-2 on the season.

Taking on an opponent receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll for the second straight match, the Broncos were unable to gain much traction against the hosting Sooners in the three-set match. WMU out-dug Oklahoma 56-53 on the strength of Lena Oliver's match-high 17 digs, but the Sooners were able to stifle the Broncos' offensive attack.

Terin Norris recorded her first double-double of the season, notching 27 assists and 10 digs. Richelle Ranney had another solid offensive performance in the middle, recording eight kills and hitting .350, and sophomore outside hitter Carlee Berland notched eight kills on 16 swings with just one error for a team-high .438 hitting percentage. Both Gillian Asque and Jessica Brown finished the match with seven kills.

The Broncos bounced back from a tough first set to push the Sooners in the second, responding to an early deficit to tie the score late in the set. Oklahoma led by as many as seven points in the second set, but the Broncos regrouped midway through when Carlee Berland recorded kills on consecutive points to make it 14-9. Berland would pair with Ranney to collect a block to make it 14-11, and the sophomore would record another kill to pull the set to 16-14.

Norris would post a kill to keep pace with the Sooners at 17-15, and would find Brown in the middle a few points later to pull the Broncos within one point. WMU finally tied the score at 18-18 when Ranney recorded a kill, and the two teams would be neck and neck through the finish. Berland would post a kill late to cut the Sooners' lead to 23-22, but OU recorded the final two points of the set to take it 25-22.

The Broncos would struggle early on in the third set against the Sooners, who took a 10-4 lead to start the period. The Broncos would pull to within four points after Richelle Ranney posted kills on consecutive plays midway through the set, but Oklahoma soon regained its footing and took the set 25-18.

The Broncos will conclude their stay at the Oklahoma Nike Invitational with a match against Missouri State this evening.