Women's Volleyball Opens Big 12 Conference Play

Sept. 21, 1999

The Oklahoma volleyball team (5-5, 0-0 Big 12) opens Big 12 Conference action at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, against Colorado at the OU Field House in Norman, Okla. The Sooners return home after participating in the Wildcat Classic last weekend. Oklahoma finished the tournament with a 1-3 record. Colorado (6-3) also opens conference action on Wednesday.

THE SERIES
Colorado has dominated the Sooners in the all-time series, 21-9. The Buffaloes have won 15 of the last 16 meetings with OU, including victories in both matches last year. The last time the Sooners defeated Colorado was a 3-2 win on Nov. 2, 1996, in Norman, Okla. The series began in 1986 with OU capturing the first seven matches.

UP NEXT
The Sooners travel to Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 25, to battle Iowa State at 7 p.m. inside Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones are currently 2-4 on the season. OU continues on the road next week when it plays at Missouri, Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Hearnes Center.

LOOKING AT THE MATCH UP
No. 22 Colorado (6-3, 0-0 Big 12): The Buffaloes extended their streak to 36 consecutive weeks in the USA TODAY/AVCA Top 25 Poll despite finishing 1-2 last week. But Colorado's two defeats were against No. 3 Hawaii and No. 4 Long Beach State in Hawaii. In front of 6, 654 Rainbow Wahine fans on Friday, the Buffaloes were defeated 0-3 by Hawaii. On Saturday against the defending national champions Long Beach State, CU won the first game of the match, but lost the following three for a 1-3 defeat. The Buffs lost their first match of the year to state rival Colorado State, 0-3. The Buffaloes are led by senior setter Kelly Campbell. The 1999 Preseason All-Big 12 pick has registered 428 assists for an average of 12.97 a game. She also ranks first on the team in hitting percentage (.417), second in blocks (22), third in digs (85) and fifth in total kills (66). Leading Colorado in kills is Sonja Nielsen. The outside hitter has a total of 125 kills on the season for an average of 3.79 a game. Meghan Barkman, a 6-2 freshman middle blocker, leads the team in blocks with 41. Oklahoma (5-5, 0-0 Big 12): The Sooners are looking to stop a three-match losing streak. OU is led by junior middle blocker Cathy Cook. The transfer from Portland University has been solid for the Sooners all season long as she leads the team in total kills (101), kills per game (2.81) and total blocks (29). She also ranks second on the team in hitting percentage (.433). Cook has been named to the all-tournament team in all three of Oklahoma's tournaments this season (Cal Poly, Sooner Invitational and Wildcat Classic). Carolyn Kittell continues to be a leader on the court ranking first for OU in assists with 413, an average of 11.47 per game. The junior setter also leads the team in digs with 88. Melissa Christman ranks among the top five on the team in most of the statistical categories, including first in service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Bookout looks to return to the lineup after suffering a pulled stomach muscle last week. The Hereford, Texas product played only in one match (San Jose State) in the Wildcat Classic last weekend. She currently ranks second on the team in kills with 96.

Last Week ... OU finishes 1-3 at the Wildcat Classic
Cook Named to All-Tournament Team
Oklahoma finished fourth in the Wildcat Classic in Evanston, Ill., last weekend with a 1-3 record. Winning the tournament was San Jose State with a 4-0 performance. Placing second was host, Northwestern (2-2) followed by LSU (2-2), Oklahoma (1-3) and West Virginia (1-3). All-tournament MVP honors went to San Jose State's Joslynn Gallop, while OU's Cathy Cook earned her third all-tournament honor. She was also named to the Cal Poly Classic and Sooner Invitational all-tournament teams. Cook, a middle blocker, finished the tournament with 34 kills, three service aces, eight digs and nine blocks. In OU's 3-0 loss to San Jose State, Cook registered 11 kills in 13 and a .462 hitting percentage. The Sooners opened the tournament with a convincing 15-3, 15-3, 15-12 victory over West Virginia. OU finished with a .333 hitting percentage compared to the Mountaineers' .061 hitting percentage. Oklahoma was led by sophomore Chantae Weathers and Cook, who landed seven and five kills, respectively. Junior setter Carolyn Kittell added four kills,16 assists and four digs. In their second match, the Sooners were swept by San Jose State, 8-15, 14-16, 4-15. Cook led OU with 11 kills. Saturday, the Sooners lost both of their matches. In its first match, Oklahoma fell to LSU, 15-10, 8-15, 17-19, 12-15. Four Sooners recorded double digits in kills in the losing effort. Leading OU was junior Maria Holmgren and Weathers with 13 kills each. In addition, senior Melissa Christman and Cook added 12 kills a piece. In their last match of the tournament, the Sooners were defeated by host, Northwestern, 9-15, 8-15, 11-15.

AMONG THE BIG 12 BEST
As a team, OU ranks second in the Big 12 Conference in hitting percentage. The Sooners chart a .271 hitting efficiency, just behind Baylor's .277. Individually, Cathy Cook, Carolyn Kittell and Melissa Christman currently rank among the conference's best in hitting percentage, assists and service aces, respectively. Cook ranks first in hitting percentage at .480 (101k-20e-187ta). Kittell is the ninth-best setter in the league averaging 11.47 assists per game while Christman ranks sixth in sevice aces averaging 0.43 per game.

1999 BIG 12 STANDINGS
(as of Sept. 20, 1999)

School	Overall	Big 12
Baylor	12-1	0-0
Texas A&M	9-1	0-0
Texas Tech	10-2	0-0
Kansas	9-2	0-0
Nebraska	8-2	0-0
Kansas State	6-2	0-0
Texas	6-2	0-0
Colorado	6-3	0-0
Missouri	5-5	0-0
OKLAHOMA	5-5	0-0
IOWA STATE	2-4	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 set a personal-best .667 (11-1-15) hitting percentage against the Shockers (9/11) ... season best 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 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).

#13 CATHY COOK
(6-2, Jr., MB, Irvine, Calif.)
Has been named to three all-tournament teams - Cal Poly Classic, Sooner Invitational and Wildcat Classic ... established a career-best hitting percentage of .632 (13-1-19) against UALR (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 (29) and block assists (23) ... also ranks second on the team in service aces (12) and hitting percentage (.433), of players who have more than 20 total attempts.

#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 best includes 16 kills against Wyoming (9/11) and three digs, twice ... registered personal best four block assists against LSU (9/18).

#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 413 assists and 88 digs ... also ranks fourth on team with 17 total blocks ... has a .568 hitting percentage (23-2-37) ... ranks ninth in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game, averaging 11.47 ... season highs includes 59 assists, 17 digs and four kills.

#15 DANIELLE BOOKOUT
(6-1, So., OH, Hereford, Texas)
Ranks second on team in kills with 96 and averages 3.84 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 11 block solos ... can play outside hitter or middle blocker ... ranks fourth on the team in kills (71) and second in total blocks (25) ... season best includes 13 kills against LSU (9/18), 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 46 kills this season ... 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).

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

#24 MAXINE ZUBIAGA
(5-9, Jr., DS, Carrollton, Texas)
Her 67 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) ... matched a career high of two aces against Arkansas-Little Rock (9/10).

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

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

#6 LIZ NEWMAN
(5-8, Fr., S, Tulsa, Okla.)
Has played in 22 games and recorded one kill and one assist ... set a personal best of four digs vs. LSU (9/18).

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 gm	16	Maria Holmgren vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gm	19	Danielle Bookout vs. Wichita State (9/4)
5 gm	20	Danielle Bookout vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Total Attempts
3 gm	30	Danielle Bookout vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gm	47	Danielle Bookout vs. Cal Poly (9/4)
5 gm	41	Danielle Bookout vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Assists
3 gm	43	Carolyn Kittell vs. Wyoming (9/11)
4 gm	58	Carolyn Kittell vs. Wichita State (9/4)
5 gm	59	Carolyn Kittell vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Digs
3 gm	10	Maxine Zubiaga vs. Arkansas-LR (9/10)
4 gm	13	Carolyn Kittell at Cal Poly (9/4)
5 gm	17	Carolyn Kittell vs. San Francisco (9/3)

Aces
All	5	Melissa Christman vs. Wichita State (9/4)
All	4	Cathy Cook vs. Wichita State (9/11)
All	3	Melissa Christman vs. Wyoming (9/11)

Total Blocks
All	7	Cathy Cook at Cal Poly (9/4)
All	7	Melissa Christman vs. Wichita State (9/4)
All	6	Chantae Weathers vs. Wichita State (9/11)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Women's Volleyball Opens Big 12 Conference Play

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