Laurendine and Arkansas Stun Oklahoma in Four-Set SEC Battle at Barnhill Arena
Senior Lakin Laurendine posted a team-high 17 kills with just one error and a .485 hitting percentage, anchoring a balanced attack as the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 3-1 at Barnhill Arena on Friday. After dropping a tight opening set, the Razorbacks rebounded to take the next three frames 25-23, 25-19, and 25-18, improving their overall record to 11-10 and 3-7 in Southeastern Conference play.
“It never felt like we were down,” Laurendine said of the match’s momentum shifts, adding 10 digs to notch her first double-double of the season. Sophomore Parker Duncan closely followed with 16 kills, while senior Romani Thurman contributed 10 kills on a .350 hitting clip. Arkansas asserted dominance at the net with 11 team blocks compared to Oklahoma’s five, paced by Layla Smith with seven blocks, including two solo efforts.
How the Match Unfolded Across Four Sets
The Sooners claimed control early, capitalizing on service pressure from Tekoa Barnes—who tallied three points in a row, including back-to-back aces—to pull away and secure the first set 25-19. Arkansas answered immediately in the second set, recovering from a 15-10 deficit at the technical timeout. A late 4-0 run sparked by Thurman put the Hogs ahead 21-19, and despite Oklahoma tying the score, Arkansas held firm to win 25-23 and level the match.
The third set remained tight until a successful challenge sparked a 3-0 Razorback run, giving the team a 6-3 advantage. Arkansas steadily maintained its lead, closing out the set 25-19 on a kill from Laurendine and a combined block by Aleki Alexander and Kiki Remensperger. The fourth set was firmly controlled by the hosts, who opened on a 5-0 run and eventually doubled up the Sooners at 16-8 before Duncan sealed the match with her 16th kill of the night.
Razorbacks Secure Assists and Digs Before Facing Florida
Oklahoma struggled to find defensive answers against a multifaceted Arkansas offense quarterbacked by junior setter Kiki Remensperger, who delivered 44 assists on the second contact. Freshman libero Madi Benne anchored the back row with 13 digs, supplementing Laurendine’s defensive output.
The Razorbacks now hit the road for three straight, beginning with a contest against No. 4 Florida on Sunday, Nov. 1, with first serve scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
