OU Begins Home Schedule; Hosts Sooner Invitational This Weekend

Sept. 7, 1999

SOONER INVITATIONAL
The Oklahoma volleyball team (2-1, 0-0 Big 12) will host its annual Sooner Invitational this weekend at the OU Field House starting Friday, Sept. 10. The two-day, four-team tournament features Arkansas-Little Rock, Wyoming, Wichita State and host Oklahoma. OU plays the second match on Friday at 8 p.m. against Arkansas-Little Rock, following the Wichita State and Wyoming match at 5 p.m. Saturdays action has OU playing two matches prior to the home opener for the Sooner football team at Memorial Stadium against Indiana State (kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m.). The first match for the volleyball team will be at noon against Wichita State, followed by the Wyoming match at 5 p.m.

LOOKING AT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
Arkansas-Little Rock (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt): The Trojans are 2-1 on the season after participating in the Texas-Arlington Tournament in Arlington, Texas, last weekend. UALR defeated Texas Arlington and Texas-El Paso before losing to Georgia Tech.

Last year, the Trojans made their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Wisconsin in the first round, with an overall record of 20-9. UALR also finished second in the Sun Belt Conference with a 10-4 record.

For more information, please visit UALRs website at: www.ualr.edu.

Wichita State (0-4, 0-0 Missouri Valley): This will be the second time this season the Sooners and Shockers (0-4) will face each other this season. OU defeated Wichita State, 3-1, at the Cal Poly Classic last weekend. Four Sooners posted double-digit kills in the win over the Shockers, including Danielle Bookout and Cathy Cook, who each tallied 19 kills. Wichita State was led by Sarah Larsons 19 kills. This year, the Shockers are led by Jan Meloys 64 kills and Larsons 61 kills. Last year, the Shockers placed fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 11-7 record and ended the season with a 17-17 overall mark.

For more information, please visit WSUs website at: www.twsu.edu.

Wyoming (2-3, 0-0 Mountain West): The Cowgirls opened the season with a 3-0 win over Denver, followed by a second-place finish at the Wake Forest Invitational. Oklahoma won that tournament a year ago.

Wyoming returns three starters off of last years squad, including second-team All-WAC selection Melody Friehauf. Friehauf has compiled 57 kills this season. Last year, Wyoming posted a 16-14 overall record and a 10-4 record in the Western Athletic Conference. This year, Wyoming is a member of the Mountain West Conference.

For more information on the Cowgirls, please go to their athletic website: www.wyomingathletics.com.

Oklahoma (2-1, 0-0 Big 12): The Sooners started the 1999 campaign with a second-place finish at the Cal Poly Classic in San Luis, Obispo, Calif. OU defeated San Francisco in five games and Wichita State in four before losing to tournament champion Cal Poly, 1-3.

The Sooners are led by sophomore Danielle Bookout, who has 53 kills in three matches, followed by junior transfer Cathy Cooks 38 kills. Defensively, OU has three players with 30 or more digs including team leader Carolyn Kittell with 41. Kittell also charts a team-high 159 assists. Cook leads the team in blocks with 15. Shes followed closely by senior Melissa Christmans 11 total blocks.

THE SERIES
This will be the fifth meeting between Oklahoma and Arkansas-Little Rock. The Sooners own a 3-1 edge in the all-time series but the two teams split last year in Little Rock with UALR winning 3-1 and OU sweeping the Trojans the following day (Sept. 19, 1998).

Against Wichita State, OU has a huge advantage in the all-time series at 19-3. Last years WSU victory marked the first time in eight tries that the Shockers defeated the Sooners. These two teams have already played each other this season - OU won 3-1.

This will be the first meeting in 16 years and third all-time match between Oklahoma and Wyoming. OU defeated the Cowgirls, 3-1, on Oct. 8, 1983, in Norman in the last meeting.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma will play in its last regular-season tournament on Sept. 16-17, before opening the 1999 Big 12 Conference schedule against Colorado on Sept. 22 in Norman.

The Northwestern Tournament in Evanston, Ill., will be the Sooners third-straight tournament of the year. OU opens the tournament against West Virginia on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Welsh Ryan Arena.

OU PLACES SECOND IN CAL POLY CLASSIC
The University of Oklahoma volleyball began the 1999 season with a 2-1 record and a second place finish at the Cal Poly Classic in San Luis Obispo, Calif., last weekend. OU defeated San Francisco, 3-2, and Wichita State, 3-1, and lost to tournament champion Cal Poly, 1-3.

Against San Francisco, OU won in five games, 15-9, 9-15, 8-15, 15-11, 15-12. The Sooners were down 2-1, but came back to capture the final two games. Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Bookout led OU with a career-high 20 kills. In Saturdays action, OU defeated Wichita State, 15-8, 12-15, 15-3, 15-5. Four Sooners recorded double-digit kills, including junior Cathy Cook and Bookout, who each posted 19. Junior Holly McMillan added 11 kills and a career-high 12 digs. In the nightcap, OU suffered its first loss of the year to host school Cal Poly, 13-15, 15-6, 15-11, 15-4. The Sooners offense struggled as it ended the match with a 0.95 hitting percentage and 33 errors. Bookout contributed 14 kills and junior setter Carolyn Kittell posted 42 assists and 13 digs.

Kittell, who finished with 159 assists in the tournament, was named to the all-tournament team. Cook, who recorded 38 kills and 15 blocks, also was selected to the all-tournament team.

A GLANCE AT THE SOONER VOLLEYBALL TEAM
#2 MELISSA CHRISTMAN
(6-1, Sr., OH, Kansas City, Mo.) Is the team leader in service aces (5), ranks second in blocks (11) and third in kills (31).

#4 MELISSA STRINGFIELD
(5-11, Sr., OH, Spring, Texas)
Ranks second on the team in digs (32) and service aces (3).

#7 ROBIN WIESKUS
(6-1, Sr., MB, Jackson, Minn.)
Highly unlikely she will play this season due to a back injury.

#13 CATHY COOK
(6-2, Jr., MB, Irvine, Calif.)
Was named to the Cal Poly Classic All-Tournament Team ... is the team leader in blocks (15) and ranks second in kills (38).

#1 MARIA HOLMGREN
(6-1, Jr., OH, Trelleborg, Sweden)
Has 18 kills and seven digs to her credit in eight games played.

#23 CAROLYN KITTELL
(5-8, Jr., S, Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Was named to the Cal Poly Classic All-Tournament Team ... has a team-high 159 assists and 41 digs ... also ranks third on team with seven blocks.

#15 DANIELLE BOOKOUT
(6-1, So., OH, Hereford, Texas)
Leads OU with 53 kills and 4.42 kills per game average ... also ranks second on team in blocks with 11.

#8 CHANTAE WEATHERS
(6-2, So., MB, San Antonio, Texas)
Has recorded a team-high three block solos ... showed promising potential at the Cal Poly Classic ... has 25 kills and six total blocks.

#9 HOLLY MCMILLAN
(6-2, Jr., MB, Altaville, Calif.)
Has 23 kills in OUs three matches ... tied for second on team in hitting percentage (.333).

#3 ALLISON SILVEIRA
(5-8, Jr., DS, Elgin, Ill.)
A walk-on who has played in all three matches and owns six digs and one kill.

#24 MAXINE ZUBIAGA
(5-9, Jr., DS, Carrollton, Texas)
One of the best defenders on the team ... currently has 30 digs, ranking her third on the team.

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

#10 LAKEISHA BROOM
(6-0, Fr., MB, Birmingham, Ala.)
Has played in one game, earning one block assist.

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

1999 BIG 12 STANDINGS
(as of Sept. 6, 1999)

School         Overall        Big 12

Baylor        5-0        0-0

Kansas          4-0        0-0

Texas        2-0        0-0

Texas Tech5-1        0-0

Kansas State3-1        0-0

Texas A&M3-1        0-0

Nebraska4-2        0-0

Colorado2-1        0-0

Iowa State2-1        0-0

OKLAHOMA2-1        0-0

Missouri2-2        0-0

1999 SEASON LEADERS

Kills                  Total    Per Game

1. Danielle Bookout 53 4.42 2. Cathy Cook 38 2.92 3. Melissa Christman 31 2.58

Assists 1. Carolyn Kittell 159 12.23 2. Melissa Christman 8 0.67

Digs 1. Carolyn Kittell 41 3.15 2. Melissa Stringfield 32 2.67 3. Maxine Zubiaga 30 2.50

Total Blocks 1. Cathy Cook 15 1.15 2. Melissa Christman 11 0.92

Hitting Percentage 1. Cathy Cook .400 2. Holly McMillan .333

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Begins Home Schedule; Hosts Sooner Invitational This Weekend

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors