The K-State volleyball team is off to a 10-2 start and ranked 16th in the country, but coach Suzie Fritz said the road is about to get tougher.

When Oklahoma visits Ahearn Field House at 7 tonight, Fritz said the Wildcats will face their stiffest competition yet in Big 12 Conference play.

"This will be the best Big 12 opponent that we've faced thus far," Fritz said. "I feel like we are starting to grow and improve as a team, and we continue to get better."

The match will feature two of the four Big 12 teams with perfect conference records, giving the match early-season implications for the championship race.

Oklahoma brings a different look than the past two Big 12 opponents that fell victim to the Wildcats' five-match winning streak. Fritz said the Sooners play a quicker style of volleyball, which has helped them to a 9-2 record.

The Sooners' fast style of play, which helped them sweep the season series against K-State a year ago, is a product of head coach Santiago Restrepo, Fritz said.

"They are always a good team - they have been since Santiago took them over," Fritz said. "They play very fast which can cause you some problems."

Oklahoma comes into the match having won its last two matches over KU and then-No. 25 Texas A&M.

K-State is coming off its fifth-straight sweep, a 3-0 win over Baylor on Saturday.

"I thought we executed a game plan about as well as we had all year," Fritz said. "I thought the girls seemed to be on target with the things we were concerned about with Baylor."

The Wildcats' match with Oklahoma will be televised live tonight by FSN Midwest and will be broadcast on 1350 KMAN.

The Barn Party promotion, with prizes awarded to fans with the best farmyard costumes, also will take place tonight.