Oklahoma Volleyball Team Set to Open 2024 Season with Tough Schedule

Strategic Insights -

The Oklahoma volleyball team, under the leadership of second-year head coach Aaron Mansfield, is set to open the 2024 season at the Ameritas Players Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Sooners will face stiff competition, including host Nebraska, TCU, and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, in a tournament that will test their skills and strategy. The season begins on Friday, August 30, with a 4:30 p.m. match against TCU, followed by a game against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Oklahoma volleyball team will face a challenging non-conference schedule, with all 12 matches being played away from their home stadium, McCasland Field House.
  • The Sooners will enter their first season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) after joining the league on July 1, 2024.
  • The 2024 schedule features 16 matches, with every school facing two teams twice and all other teams once, including home-and-home series against Arkansas and Texas.
  • Nine of Oklahoma's 14 opponents advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, with five of those teams also finishing in the top 25 of the 2023 AVCA Coaches Poll.
  • The team returns nine athletes from the 2024 squad, including starters Payton Chamberlain, Alexis Shelton, and Callie Kemohah, who collectively led the team in assists, kills, and digs in the 2023 season.
  • The team added four transfers and three freshmen to complete the 2024 roster, including Carley Butler, Jasmine Ellison, and Whitney Wallace, who will make their collegiate debuts.

Statistics:

  • 12 non-conference matches will be played on the road in 2024.
  • 16 matches are set for the 2024 season.
  • 5 of Oklahoma's 14 opponents finished in the top 25 of the 2023 AVCA Coaches Poll.
  • 9 of Oklahoma's 14 opponents advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
  • The team returns 9 athletes from the 2023 squad, including starters Payton Chamberlain, Alexis Shelton, and Callie Kemohah.
  • The team added 4 transfers and 3 freshmen to complete the 2024 roster.
  • Carley Butler, Jasmine Ellison, and Whitney Wallace will make their collegiate debuts in 2024.

Sources:

  • University of Oklahoma Athletics news release, "Oklahoma Volleyball Set to Open 2024 Season at Ameritas Players Challenge"
  • Statbroadcast: "Live Stats for Oklahoma Volleyball Matches"
  • AVCA Coaches Poll, 2023
  • NCAA Tournament results, 2023
  • University of Oklahoma Athletics, "Oklahoma Volleyball 2024 Roster"