The OU volleyball team has developed a knack for finishing teams off in five sets.

Coming off five-set wins over No. 4 Texas and Baylor, the Sooners will ride their two-match winning streak into Manhattan, Kan., where they will square off against the last team to best them in five frames: No. 15 Kansas State.

Despite being one point away from sweeping the Wildcats 3-0 on Oct. 11, OU (10-12, 6-8 Big 12) was unable to put the nail in their coffin and in turn, Kansas State rattled off wins in the next three sets to survive.

“We missed an opportunity against K-State,” head coach Santiago Restrepo said. “We let it slip away … It’s going to be much tougher at their place, but I like our chances.”

Despite the Sooners’ recent success in five-set matches, the Wildcats have shown a high level of resilience when on the brink of defeat.

Kansas State has endured five-set matches in four of its last six outings, coming away with victories on all but one occasion.

The Wildcats have shown no signs of slowing down on the way to their eighth NCAA tournament appearance in the last nine years, only dropping conference matches to No. 3 Nebraska, No. 4 Texas and Iowa State.

Factor in that Kansas State has faced no substantial drop in its match-to-match statistical marks and the Sooners appear to be looking at the same squad they clashed with just under one month ago.

“We had game point against K-State last time,” freshman outside hitter Caitlin Higgins said. “Now that we can find ways to win more, I think we can beat them.”

Higgins will carry her own degree of momentum into Wednesday’s match. She was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Monday.

The award marks the first time a freshman from OU has earned a Big 12 weekly award and the first time a freshman has been named Offensive Player of the Week in the Big 12 this season.

“It is especially great to be named Offensive Player of the Week as a freshman,” Restrepo said. “Caitlin is a hard worker and the award is reflecting of that hard work and her dedication.”

Over the past week, Higgins posted a combined 31 kills and 32 digs, along with five service aces and four blocks in the Sooners’ victories over No. 4 Texas and Baylor.

The Sooners will aim to carry their momentum from notching a 3-2 decision over visiting Baylor last Sunday.

Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Francie Ekwerekwu strung together her second 20-point performance of the season, finishing the afternoon with a match-high 17 kills and a career-high eight block assists.

Three other Sooners tallied double-digit kills and OU out-blocked the Bears by a 14-7 margin.

Higgins and freshman setter Brianne Barker posted double-doubles for the 11th and 12th times, respectively, on the season.

Barker assisted on 52 kills and added 20 digs, while Higgins dug 20 balls of her own, while also contributing 13 kills on offense.

Heading into the match, Baylor was receiving votes in the Top 25 poll and the victory has only further boosted the confidence OU gained from beating Texas just a few days earlier.

“I feel like [Kansas State] hasn’t seen this team yet,” Ekwerekwu said. “They saw a team that was still working things out and we’re believing in the fact that we can beat them, so they’re going to see that we’re a new team now.”