Tolliver’s 26 Kills Propel Oklahoma Past ETSU in Five

Friday, September 18

Bowling Green, KY

3 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

7-2,0-0SEC

East Tennessee State

2-8,0-0SoCon

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Oklahoma	23	25	22	25	15	3
ETSU	25	20	25	23	10	2

Photo by: Daem Campbell/University of Oklahoma

Tolliver’s 26 Kills Propel Oklahoma Past ETSU in Five

September 18, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Junior Alaleh Tolliver hammered down a career-high 26 kills as Oklahoma volleyball went the distance for the second straight day, defeating ETSU 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10) Friday afternoon inside E.A. Diddle Arena. The Sooners improved to 7-2 and closed non-conference play with their fourth consecutive victory.

After alternating sets through the first four frames, Oklahoma took control of the fifth with an 8-1 run that turned a 3-4 deficit into an 11-5 advantage. The Sooners never allowed ETSU (2-8) closer than five the rest of the way, finishing the deciding set with 11 kills while hitting .320.

Tolliver's 26 kills came on 64 swings as she hit .281 and added eight digs, two aces and two blocks. Four Sooners reached double figures in kills, with sophomore Alyssa Flack adding 16 on a .412 clip, junior Carley Butler recording a career-high 15, and junior Mikala Young finishing with 14. Oklahoma totaled a season-high 79 kills and hit .291 for the match.

Sophomore Avaya Maga directed the offense with a career-high 68 assists and added 14 digs for her third double-double of the season. Sophomore Aniya Warren led the defensive effort with a career-best 22 digs and seven assists, while juniors Kinsley Singleton and McKenna Brand added 18 and 10 digs, respectively. Senior Elise Hani led the Sooners at the net with five blocks.

SET ONE
The opening set featured 10 ties as the teams traded points throughout. Oklahoma held a 22-21 advantage late before ETSU scored back-to-back points to move in front. A Tolliver and Hani block tied the frame once more at 23, but the Buccaneers responded with consecutive kills to take the opener 25-23.

SET TWO
Neither team led by more than two through the first half of the second before ETSU built an 18-16 advantage. Oklahoma responded behind Warren's serve, with Tolliver accounting for three kills during a five-point run that flipped the deficit into a 21-18 Sooner lead. OU scored nine of the final 11 points overall, with a Hani block closing the 25-20 victory.

SET THREE
Oklahoma opened the third with a 5-1 advantage before ETSU answered to even the set at seven. The Buccaneers later used another run to build a 21-15 lead, but the Sooners continued to battle, cutting the deficit to two at 24-22 behind consecutive Tolliver kills. ETSU answered with a kill to take the frame 25-22 and regain the match lead.

SET FOUR
ETSU raced out to a 10-2 advantage before Oklahoma began working its way back. Flack sparked a five-point run that cut the deficit to 10-8, but the Buccaneers rebuilt their advantage and still led 22-18 late in the frame. From there, Oklahoma scored five straight, getting two Hani kills, a Tolliver kill and a Tolliver/Hani block to move in front 23-22. After ETSU tied the set, Flack delivered back-to-back kills to complete the comeback, 25-23, and send the match to a fifth.

SET FIVE
ETSU held a 4-3 edge early in the deciding frame before Young delivered consecutive kills to give Oklahoma its first lead. With the score tied at five, Butler put the Sooners back in front and sparked a decisive 6-0 run. Butler added another kill during the stretch, while Tolliver contributed two as OU surged ahead 11-5. The Sooners maintained control from there, with Tolliver accounting for three of Oklahoma's final four kills before Hani finished off the 15-10 victory.

LOOKING AHEAD
Oklahoma returns home to host No. 10 Florida for its SEC opener on Sept. 27.