Volleyball Hosts Big 12 Foe Kansas Wednesday

Oct. 4, 1999

SOONERS HOST KANSAS AT THE OU FIELD HOUSE WEDNESDAY
The Oklahoma volleyball team (6-8, 1-3 Big 12) will host Kansas Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p. m. at the OU Field House in Norman. The Jayhawks (11-4, 2-2 in the Big 12), who are currently in sixth place in conference play defeated Missouri (3-2) and Texas Tech (3-1). Kansas lost to No. 7 Texas (1-3) at home and on the road at Nebraksa (0-3). This match between OU and KU could be an offensive show. Kansas comes into the match against the Sooners averaging 16.17 kills per game compared to OU's 14.00. But Oklahoma owns a higher hitting percentage than the Jayhawks, .261 to .208. Defensively, KU has an edge, averaging 15.53 digs and 2.50 blocks per game, while the Sooners average 11.67 digs and 2.09 blocks.

THE SERIES
Oklahoma leads the all-time series against Kansas, 36-13. But the Jayhawks have won the last two meetings. Last year, KU defeated OU, 3-1 and 3-2. Prior to last season, the Sooners won 10 of the last 12 matches. The series between these two teams began in 1976 with OU winning both of the meetings that year.

LOOKING AT THE MATCH UP
Kansas (11-4, 2-2 Big 12): Winners in six of their last eight matches, the Jayhawks will be looking to junior Amy Myatt in their offensive attack. The 6-0 outside hitter leads the team in kills (225), kills per game (4.17) and hitting percentage (.280). KU will also its offense through senior Amanda Reves. The 6-1 middle blocker ranks second on the team in kills (200), kills per game (3.51) and hitting percentage (.214). Leading the Jayhawks offense is sophomore setter Holly LaMere. She has registered 748 total assists for an average of 12.90 per game. Defensively, KU is averaging 15.53 digs per game led by four players averaging more than 2.00 digs per game. Senior Mary Beth Albrecht and LaMere lead the Jayhawks in digs per game with 2.85 and 2.76, respectively.

Oklahoma (6-8, 1-3 Big 12): The Sooners, who were ranked 19th in the nation last week in hitting percentage (.266), are 1-3 in the Big 12 after losing last week to Missouri, 2-3, and No. 7 Texas, 1-3. Oklahoma is led by junior Cathy Cook. The middle blocker continues to shine in her first year at OU as she leads the team in total kills (150) and total blocks (37) and ranks second in kills per game (2.94) and hitting percentage (.440). Last week, Cook was ranked first in the nation with a .457 hitting percentage. Carolyn Kittell sets the Sooner offense on the court ranking first on the team in assists with 573, an average of 11.24 per game. The junior setter also leads the team in digs with 114, an average of 2.24 per game. Melissa Christman ranks among the top five on the team in most of the statistical categories, including first in service aces (23) and second in total kills (133). Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Bookout ranks first on the team in kills per game (3.18) and third in total kills (124). Sophomore Chantae Weathers has played the outside hitter and middle blocker positions. She ranks fourth on the team in total kills (117) and total blocks (30).

UP NEXT
The Sooners will travel to College Station, Texas, to face No. 16 Texas A&M. The Aggies are 12-2 overall and are in third place in the Big 12 Conference at 3-1. A&M lost at No. 7 Texas, 1-3, last week and lost its first match of the season to Clemson, 0-3. After losing to the Tigers, Texas A&M won 10 straight matches before falling to the Longhorns.

LAST WEEK: OU SUFFERS TOUGH LOSSES TO MISSOURI AND N0. 7 TEXAS
The Sooners went 0-2 last week losing to Missouri, 2-3, in Columbia, Mo, and No. 7 Texas, 1-3, in Norman. Against the Tigers, the Sooners led 2-1 and owned a 14-5 lead in game four, but they could not finish off Missouri. The Tigers fought back to capture game four, 16-14. Game five also went to the wire as MU squeaked by, 16-14. Leading Oklahoma offensively were sophomore Chantae Weathers and senior Melissa Christman. Weathers recorded a personal-best 18 kills, while Christman posted a season-high 17 kills. Christman also registered a team-best .467 hitting percentage (17k-3e-30ta). Junior setter Carolyn Kittell dished out 58 assists, one shy of her season best, and added 11 digs and a season-best four service aces. Defensive specialist Maxine Zubiaga contributed a team-high 13 digs.

Against Texas, the Sooners won game one 17-15. But the Longhorns regrouped at the break and jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the second game before OU earned its first point. UT went on to win game two 15-2 and finished off the Sooners for a 3-1 win. Junior Cathy Cook and Weathers paced OU with 13 kills each, while Christman added 11 kills. Cook, who leads the nation in hitting percentage, connected on 13 of 26 attempts and only committed two errors for a hitting percentage of .423. Kittell led the team with 39 assists and landed eight kills on 11 total attempts without an error for a season-high .727 hitting efficiency.

COOK IS NATION'S BEST
From her middle blocker position, junior Cathy Cook has established herself as an offensive weapon for the Sooners this season. Last week, her .457 hitting percentage ranked first in the nation by 21 percentage points over UCLA's Tamika Johnson. For her outstanding efforts on the court this year, the Irvine, Calif., product has been named to three all-tournament teams (Cal Poly Classic, Sooner Invitational and Wildcat Classic). Cook also ranks first on the team in total blocks with 37 for an average of 0.73 per game.

1999 BIG 12 STANDINGS
(as of Oct. 2, 1999)

School          Overall   Big 12

Kansas State     10-2      4-0   

Texas            10-2      4-0   

Texas A&M        12-2      3-1

Colorado          9-4      3-1

Baylor           14-3      2-2

Kansas           11-4      2-2

Nebraska         10-4      2-2

Missouri          6-8      1-3

OKLAHOMA          6-8      1-3

Texas Tech       10-6      0-4

IOWA STATE        2-8      0-4

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Volleyball Hosts Big 12 Foe Kansas Wednesday

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