OU Netters Play in Northwestern Tournament This Weekend

Sept. 16, 1999

OU TO PLAY AT NORTHWESTERN
The Oklahoma volleyball team (2-1, 0-0 Big 12) will be participating in its third consecutive tournament of the season when it travels to Evanston, Ill., to play in the Northwestern Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Sooners (4-2) will open the two-day, five-team tournament with two matches on Friday at Welsh Ryan Arena. OU's first match will be at 9:30 a.m. against West Virginia followed by a 5 p.m. match vs. San Jose State. In Saturday's action, the Sooners will face LSU at 2:30 p.m. and Northwestern at 7:30 p.m.

THE SERIES
For the first time in school history, OU will face West Virginia and Northwestern. San Jose State leads the all-time series with the Sooners, 6-1. Oklahoma won the first-ever meeting on Sept. 18, 1981, but the Spartans have won the last six matches. LSU also owns a 6-3 all-time series advantage over the Sooners. The last time these two teams played was on Nov. 6, 1993, when LSU defeated the Sooners, 3-0.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma will begin Big 12 Conference action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, against Colorado at the OU Field House in Norman. The Buffaloes, who are 6-1, are ranked No. 22 in the latest USA TODAY/AVCA Top 25 Poll. The Sooners lost both meetings with Colordao last year and the Buffaloes have won 17 of the last 18 matches with OU.

LOOKING AT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
West Virginia (3-1, 0-0 Big East Conference): The Mountaineers have compiled a 3-1 overall record this season after finishing 2-1 at the Rhode Island Tournament, Sept. 3-4. West Virginia opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over Oakland. After falling to Big 12 Conference member Kansas, 3-1, the Mountaineers bounced back to capture their last match of the tournament with a 3-1 win over Maryland. WVU is led by middle hitter Brooke Hudson's team-highs in total kills (52) and total blocks (15). The 6-1 senior is averaging 3.71 kills per game.

San Jose State (7-1, Western Athletic Conference): OU's second match on Saturday is slated for 5 p.m. versus San Jose State. The Spartans are 7-1 overall this season. Their only loss was a 1-3 defeat at Washington State on Sept. 4. Last weekend, San Jose State finished 3-0 at the University of San Diego Tournament while losing just one game. Middle blocker Joslynn Gallop was named the tournament's most valuable player after collecting 35 kills, eight blocks ands 18 digs. The 6-1 junior leads the team in kills with 124 for an average of 4.43 per game.

LSU (4-4, Southeastern Conference): The Tigers are 4-4 on the year, but after starting out 1-4 have won three straight and captured the Tiger Classic championship. In its last three wins, LSU has not dropped a game. One of the Tigers' defeats this year was to No. 7 Stanford, but they managed to win one game in the match. Offensively, LSU is led by freshman Jennifer Hampton. The 5-11 outside hitter has totaled 76 kills this season for an average of 3.62 per game. Hampton also leads the team in digs with 53. Defensively at the net, the Tigers are led by Meagan Davis' 37 blocks, including 10 solo blocks.

Northwestern (0-6, Big Ten): The Wildcats are winless on the year at 0-6. In three of those losses, Northwestern has been swept. Leading Northwestern in kills is outside hitter Carmen Burbach with 74. The 5-10 junior averages 3.36 kills per game and ranks second on the team in digs with 66.

Oklahoma (4-2, 0-0 Big 12): The Sooners go into the Northwestern Tournament with a 4-2 overall record. OU will be playing its final regular-season tournament of the year. The Sooners have placed second in their first two tournaments, including last weekend's Sooner Invitational. Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Bookout leads the team in kills with 88 and an average of 4.00 kills per game. Also assisting the Sooners offensively is middle blocker Cathy Cook. The 6-2 junior ranks second on the team in kills with 67 and leads the team in blocks with 20. Carolyn Kittell continues to be a force in the assist department as she has compiled 292 assists for an average of 12.70 per game. The junior setter also stands out defensively by leading the team with 62 digs. Senior Melissa Christman is one of the best all-around players for OU. The outside hitter ranks third in kills (62), second in assists (12), first in service aces (9), fifth in digs (28) and second in blocks (16).

OU PLACES SECOND IN SOONER INVITATIONAL
Oklahoma finished second in the Sooner Invitational in Norman last weekend with a 2-1 record. Winning the tournament was Wyoming with a 3-0 performance. Wichita State (1-2) placed third and was followed by Arkansas-Little Rock (0-3). All-tournament MVP honors went to Wyoming's Melody Friehauf, while OU's Cathy Cook, Carolyn Kittell and Maria Holmgen earned all-tournament honors. Jamie Burke of Wyoming and Marijanna Bego of Arkansas-Little Rock were also named to the all-tournament team. It marked the second time this season that Cook and Kittell received were named to an all-tournament team. The duo was also named to the Cal Poly Classic All-Tournament Team after OU's second-place finish on Sept. 4.

Cook, a junior blocker, finished the Sooner Invitational with 29 kills, five blocks, six service aces and a .500 hitting percentage. In the Sooners' 3-1 win over Wichita State, Cook recorded 12 kills, four service aces, two blocks and a .524 hitting percentage. Kittell continued her stellar play this season in OU's three matches last weekend. The 5-7 setter tallied 133 assists, 21 digs, five blocks and seven kills. In the Sooners' 3-1 win over the Shockers, Kittell registered 47 assists, six digs, three blocks and three kills. Holmgren, a Trelleborg, Sweden product, had her best performance of the year in OU's 3-1 loss to Wyoming. Against the Cowgirls, the 6-1 outside hitter recorded 16 kills, one dig, one block and a .519 hitting percentage. For the weekend, Holmgren finished with a team-high 32 kills. She also added four digs and two blocks.

AMONG THE BIG 12'S BEST
Oklahoma leads the Big 12 Conference in hitting percentage. The Sooners chart a league-best .292, just ahead of Baylor's .269. OU has recorded 349 kills with only 126 errors on 765 total attempts.

Individually, Oklahoma's Cathy Cook, Carolyn Kittell and Danielle Bookout rank among the conference's best in hitting percentage, assists and kills per game, respectively. Cook, a junior transfer from Portland University, ranks second in the league with a .480 hitting percentage (688k-13e-122ta). Kittell, a native of Laguna Beach, Calif., is the sixth-best setter in the league, averaging 12.70 assists per game, while Hereford, Texas, native Bookout ranks seventh in kills per game with 4.00.

1999 BIG 12 STANDINGS
(as of Sept. 14, 1999)

School          Overall  Big 12

Baylor          8-1      0-0

Texas Tech      8-1      0-0

Texas A&M       6-1      0-0 

Texas           4-0      0-0

Colorado        5-1      0-0

Nebraska        7-2      0-0

Kansas          5-2      0-0

Kansas State    5-2      0-0

OKLAHOMA        4-2      0-0

Iowa State      2-1      0-0

Missouri        4-3      0-0

#2 MELISSA CHRISTMAN
(6-1, Sr., OH, Kansas City, Mo.) Has set four personal bests this season ... landed a career-high five assists and service aces plus seven block assists against Wichita State (9/4) ... also registered a personal-best .667 (11-1-15) hitting percentage against the Shockers (9/11) ... season bests include 12 kills against Wichita State (9/4) and Wyoming (9/11) and 11 digs vs. San Francisco (9/3).

#4 MELISSA STRINGFIELD
(5-11, Sr., OH, Spring, Texas) Ranks third on the team in digs (48) and service aces (5) ... has tied her career best in service aces twice with two against Wichita State (9/11) and Wyoming (9/11).

#7 ROBIN WIESKUS
(6-1, Sr., MB, Jackson, Minn.) Is not expected to play this season.

#13 CATHY COOK
(6-2, Jr., MB, Irvine, Calif.) Has been named to two all-tournament teams (Cal Poly Classic and Sooner Invitational) ... established a career-best hitting percentage of .632 (13-1-19) against Arkansas-Little Rock (9/10) ... tied a personal best in aces with four vs. Wichita State (9/11) and block assists with six at Cal Poly (9/4) ... is the team leader in total blocks (20) and block assists (19) ... also ranks second on the team in service aces (8), kills (67) and hitting percentage (.443), of players who have more than 20 total attempts ... ranks second in the Big 12 Conference with a .443 hitting percentage.

#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 (6-0-6) against Arkansas-Little Rock (9/10) ... season bests includes 16 kills against Wyoming (9/11) and three digs, twice.

#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 292 assists and 62 digs ... also ranks fourth on team with 14 blocks ... sports a .480 hitting percentage (14-2-25) ... ranks sixth in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game, averaging 12.70 ... season highs includes 59 assists, 17 digs and four kills.

#15 DANIELLE BOOKOUT
(6-1, So., OH, Hereford, Texas) Leads OU with 88 kills (4.00 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) ... ranks seventh in the Big 12 Conference in kills per game.

#8 CHANTAE WEATHERS
(6-2, So., MB, San Antonio, Texas) Has a team-high five block solos ... can play outside hitter or middle blocker ... ranks fifth on the team in kills (35) and third in total blocks (15) ... season bests includes 12 kills and two block solos in the first match of the season against San Francisco (9/3), 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 29 kills in OU's six matches ... established career highs of 12 digs and three assists against Wichita State (9/4) ... also posted a season-high 11 kills vs. Wichita State (9/4).

#3 ALLISON SILVEIRA
(5-8, Jr., DS, Elgin, Ill.) A walk-on who has tied two career bests this season with one kill (Cal Poly, 9/4) and two aces (twice).

#24 MAXINE ZUBIAGA
(5-9, Jr., DS, Carrollton, Texas) Her 52 digs rank 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) ... matched a career high with two aces against Arkansas-Little Rock (9/10).

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

#10 LAKEISHA BROOM
(6-0, Fr., MB, Birmingham, Ala.) Has played in one game, registering a kill and a dig.

#6 LIZ NEWMAN
(5-8, Fr., S, Tulsa, Okla.) Has played in 11 games and recorded one kill, one assist and five digs.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHS
Hitting Percentage
.632 (13-1-19) Cathy Cook vs. Arkansas-LR (9/10)
.615 (19-3-26) Cathy Cook vs. Wichita State (9/4)
.524 (12-1-21) Cathy Cook vs. Wichita State (9/11)

Kills
3 gms16Maria Holmgren vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gms19Danielle Bookout vs. Wichita State (9/4)
5 gms20Danielle Bookout vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Total Attempts
3 gms30Danielle Bookout vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gms47Danielle Bookout vs. Cal Poly (9/4)
5 gms41Danielle Bookout vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Assists
3 gms43Carolyn Kittell vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gms58Carolyn Kittell vs. Wichita State (9/4)
5 gms59Carolyn Kittell vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Digs
3 gms10Maxine Zubiaga vs. Arkansas-LR (9/10)
4 gms13Carolyn Kittell at Cal Poly (9/4)
5 gms17Carolyn Kittell vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Aces
All5Melissa Christman vs. Wichita State (9/4)
All4Cathy Cook vs. Wichita State (9/11)
All3Melissa Christman vs. Wyoming (9/11)

Total Blocks
All7Cathy Cook at Cal Poly (9/4)
All7Melissa Christman vs. Wichita State (9/4)
All6Chantae Weathers vs. Wichita State (9/11)

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OU Netters Play in Northwestern Tournament This Weekend

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