Sooners Travel To Nebraska

Oct. 13, 1999

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball team (6-10, 1-5 Big 12) travels to Lincoln, Neb., on Wednesday, Oct. 13, to face 12th-ranked Nebraska (12-4, 4-2) at the Nebraska Coliseum. The Sooners, who are on a four-match losing streak, are currently tied for eighth place in the Big 12 Conference at 1-5 with Missouri and Texas Tech. OU will be playing its third-ranked opponent in its last four matches (#7 Texas, #14 Texas A&M). The Cornhuskers, who have reached the NCAA Final Four three-straight years, have already lost twice as many matches as last year's 32-2 campaign. Also, this is just the third time in school history Nebraska has posted two conference losses in the same year. The only other times the Cornhuskers dropped two conference matches were in 1997 (16-4 in the Big 12) and 1993 (10-2 in the Big Eight). Last week, Nebraska defeated Iowa State, 3-0, and knocked off No. 20 Colorado, 3-1.

A TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY --
The Nebraska Coliseum has historically been one of the toughest places for opponents to earn a victory. But this year marks the first time the Huskers have lost three matches in a single season in the building since 1986 when NU compiled a 15-3 record at home. When Kansas State snapped Nebraska's 65-match Coliseum winning streak on Sept. 22, it became the first Big Eight/Big 12 school to ever win a regular-season conference match in the building, stopping the Huskers' 101-0 record against league schools in regular-season play.

THE SERIES --
Nebraska owns a 50-6 edge in the all-time series against the Sooners. The 50 victories are the most by an opponent over Oklahoma in school history. The Cornhuskers have swept the Sooners in the last three meetings, winning all nine games. The last time OU won a game over Nebraska was when the Sooners shocked the fifth-ranked Cornhuskers, 3-0, in Norman on October 10, 1997. Those three games won by Oklahoma are the only games the Sooners have taken from Nebraska in the last 12 meetings.

LOOKING AT THE MATCH UP--
No. 12 Nebraska (12-4, 4-2 Big 12): The Cornhuskers, who are tied for fourth place in the Big 12 at 4-2 with Kansas, Texas A&M and Colorado, are led by junior outside hitter and 1998 first-team All-American Nancy Meendering. The 1999 preseason coaches' pick for Big 12 Player of the Year, Meendering leads the team in kills (279) and kills per game (4.81). She also ranks second on the team in total blocks (71) and digs (153). But despite Meendering's great performance this season, the Huskers have struggled offensively as NU doesn't have another hitter with a hitting percentage above .200. As a team, Nebraska has recorded a .242 hitting clip compared to OU's .257.

Oklahoma (6-10, 1-5 Big 12): The Sooners are currently ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in hitting percentage (.257) thanks largely to its leading offensive player, Cathy Cook. The junior middle blocker ranked first in the nation last week in hitting percentage (.440) and this week is ranked first in the Big 12 Conference (.426). Cook leads the team in kills (175), kills per game (3.02), total blocks (45) and blocks per game (0.78). Senior Melissa Christman is the Big 12 Conference leader in service aces per game (0.49). She also ranks second on the squad in kills (155) and kills per game (2.72), third in hitting percentage (.288) and total blocks (36) and fifth in digs (56).

UP NEXT --
The Sooners will begin a stretch of four-straight home matches on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. against Texas Tech at the OU Field House in Norman. The Red Raiders are currently 11-7 overall and are tied for eighth place in the Big 12 Conference with Oklahoma and Missouri at 1-5. Last Saturday, Texas Tech swept Iowa State, 3-0, in Lubbock, Texas.

LAST WEEK ... OU EXTENDS LOSING STEAK TO FOUR
The Sooners went 0-2 last week and extended its losing streak to four. Last Wednesday at the OU Field House, Oklahoma was defeated by Kansas, 3-15, 15-8, 15-9, 15-2. The Sooners took control of the match early by dominating game one. They registered a .577 hitting percentage compared to KU's .227. But the Jayhawks battled back and captured the next three games to earn the victory. OU was led by senior Melissa Christman. The outside hitter recorded team highs in kills (16) and hitting percentage (.591). Junior middle blocker Cathy Cook added 14 kills and a .355 hitting efficiency. Junior setter Carolyn Kittell dished out 47 assists. The Sooners were swept, 15-7, 15-10, 15-5, by No. 14 Texas A&M last Saturday in College Station, Texas. The Aggies dominated the match outhitting OU .389 to .196, including hitting .400 in two of the three games. The Sooners were paced by Cook's match-high 11 kills. She also added a team-high four blocks.

COOK IS NATION'S BEST --
For the second-straight week, junior Cathy Cook led the nation last week in hitting percentage (.440), just slightly ahead of Florida's Heather Wright (.438). Cook's current .426 hitting percentage ranks first in the Big 12 Conference. Also her .417 hitting clip in conference matches leads the Big 12. Cook is the only player in the conference with a hitting percentage above .400. The .426 mark also currently ranks second on Oklahoma's single-season hitting percentage chart.

KITTELL MOVING UP THE CHARTS --
With 1,763 career assists, junior setter Carolyn Kittell now ranks fourth among the school's all-time best. The Laguna Beach, Calif. product posted 1,106 assists last year and has totaled 657 this season, which ranks her first on the team. She also ranks first on the team in digs (124) and digs per game (2.14).

CHRISTMAN DEALS ACES --
Senior outside hitter Melissa Christman's 0.49 service aces per game ranks first in the Big 12 Conference. In 57 games, the Kansas City, Mo. product has posted 28 aces.

1999 BIG 12 STANDINGS
(as of Oct. 10, 1999)

School          Overall    Big 12

Kansas State    12-2       6-0

Texas           11-3       5-1

Texas A&M       13-3       4-2

Kansas          13-4       4-2

Nebraska        12-4       4-2

Colorado        10-5       4-2

Baylor          15-4       3-3

Texas Tech      11-7       1-5

Missouri        7-10       1-5

OKLAHOMA        6-10       1-5

Iowa State      2-11       0-6

#2 MELISSA CHRISTMAN
(6-1, Sr., OH, Kansas City, Mo.)
Ranks first in the Big 12 in service aces per game (0.49) ... ranks second on the team in kills (155) ... landed career-highs in assists (5), service aces (5) and block assists (7) against Wichita State (9/4) ... also set a personal-best .667 (11-1-15) hitting percentage against the Shockers (9/11) ... season bests include 12 kills against WSU (9/4) and Wyoming (9/11), and 11 digs vs. San Francisco (9/3) ... ranks among the team's top five in eight categories.

#4 MELISSA STRINGFIELD
(5-11, Sr., OH, Spring, Texas)
Ranks fourth on the team in digs (65) ... has tied her career best in service aces twice with two against Wichita State (9/11) and Wyoming (9/11).

#13 CATHY COOK
(6-2, Jr., MB, Irvine, Calif.)
Was ranked first in the nation last week in hitting percentage (.440) ... currently ranks first in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.426) ... has been named to three all-tournament teams - Cal Poly Classic, Sooner Invitational and Wildcat Classic ... established a career-best hitting percentage of .632 (13k-1e-19ta) against UALR (9/10) ... is the team leader in total blocks (45) and block assists (39) ... also ranks second on the team in service aces (15).

#1 MARIA HOLMGREN
(6-1, Jr., OH, Trelleborg, Sweden)
Earned her first all-tournament honor during the Sooner Invitational ... established a personal best in hitting percentage of 1.000 (6k-0e-6ta) against Arkansas-Little Rock (9/10) ... season best includes 16 kills against Wyoming (9/11) and three digs, twice ... registered a personal best four block assists against LSU (9/18) ... ranks fifth on the team in total kills (85).

#23 CAROLYN KITTELL
(5-8, Jr., S, Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Was named to the Cal Poly Classic and Sooner Invitational All-Tournament Teams ... has a team- high 657 assists and 124 digs ... is now fourth on the all-time school list for assists in a career (1,763) ... also ranks fifth on the team with 25 total blocks ... season highs include 59 assists, 17 digs and eight kills ... her .727 hitting percentage (8-0-11) in a single match ranks second on team.

#15 DANIELLE BOOKOUT
(6-1, So., OH, Hereford, Texas)
Ranks fourth on the team in kills with 134 and averages 2,57 kills per game ... landed a career high 20 kills in the first match of the season against San Francisco (9/3) and tied a personal best in digs with eight against Wichita State (9/4).

#8 CHANTAE WEATHERS
(6-2, So., MB, San Antonio, Texas)
Has a team-high 14 block solos ... can play outside hitter or middle blocker ... ranks third on the team in kills (136) and fourth in total blocks (35) ... season best includes 18 kills against Missouri (9/29), five block solos against West Virginia (9/17), five digs vs. Cal Poly (9/4) and five block assists against Wichita State (9/11).

#9 HOLLY McMILLAN
(6-2, Jr., MB, Altaville, Calif.)
Has 85 kills ... established career highs of 12 digs and three assists against Wichita State (9/4) ... also has a season high of 11 kills vs. Wichita State (9/4) and two service aces vs. Northwestern (9/18) ... tied a career high with six block assists vs. Iowa State (9/25).

#3 ALLISON SILVEIRA
(5-8, Jr., DS, Elgin, Ill.)
A walk-on who has tied two career bests with one kill vs. Cal Poly (9/4) and two aces (twice) ... set season-best seven digs against #14 Texas A&M (10/9).

#24 MAXINE ZUBIAGA
(5-9, Jr., DS, Carrollton, Texas)
A defensive specialist who's 104 digs ranks second on the team ... served OU's first 12 points against Wichita State (9/10) in the Sooner Invitational ... set personal bests with four assists vs. Wichita State (9/11) and 13 digs against San Francisco (9/3) ... set a career high with three service aces vs. Iowa State (9/25).

#11 RAVENE BROOKS
(5-7, So., DS, Fort Worth, Texas)
Has played in 13 games and has five digs.

#10 LAKEISHA BROOM
(6-0, Fr., MB, Birmingham, Ala.)
Has played in five games, earning three kills and a dig ... is out with a back injury.

#6 LIZ NEWMAN
(5-8, Fr., S, Tulsa, Okla.)
Has played in 43 games ... set a personal best of 10 digs against #7 Texas (10/2) ... ranks ninth on the team in total digs (37).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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