When the No. 25 OU volleyball team faced off against the Kansas State Wildcats, the Sooners were looking to snap a two-match losing streak that had prevented them from starting the second half of conference play strong.

Instead, OU lost the match and its leader, falling to the Wildcats in five sets (-18, 23-25, -16, 21-25, 12-15).

Senior setter Brianne Barker left the match in the second set with an injury with the score tied at 21 apiece and did not return.

Senior right side Suzy Boulavsky led the Sooners with 15 kills, and junior outside hitter Morgan Reynolds returned from a back injury to put up 14 kills and notched a .364 hitting percentage.

Barker had 22 digs before leaving with the injury. Senior Kylie Cowan and freshman Caroline Weir combined for 19 assists in Barker’s absence.

Kansas State middle blocker Kaitlynn Pelger, slowed by injury, played the final four sets of the match only on the back row. Pelger suffered an injury against Texas A&M on Saturday.

Lilla Porubek recorded 23 kills and 14 digs for the Wildcats, and Caitlyn Donahue added a double-double with 51 kills and 20 digs.

In the first set, OU broke a 13-13 tie and controlled the rest of the set, downing the Wildcats, 25-18.

The Sooners suffered a huge blow in the second set when Barker left the match. KSU took advantage of the setback and OU’s inability to quickly regroup, stealing a close 25-23 set from Oklahoma.

After the break, OU turned up the defensive pressure, forcing 13 KSU attack errors in the third set and holding the Wildcats to a -.143 hitting percentage. But OU struggled to adjust offensively to Barker’s injury, hitting only .133 with just eight kills.

OU took a commanding lead in the fourth set and appeared to have the set and match well in hand. But the Wildcats, down 21-18, rallied to take the next seven points to win the set, 25-21 and force a decisive fifth set, which the Wildcats also won, 15-12.

OU will get another shot at ending its streak against Baylor at 7 p.m. Saturday at McCasland Field House.