Volleyball Finishes 2004 With Style

NORMAN, Okla. The Oklahoma volleyball team finished the first season of the Santiago Restrepo era with a five-game (30-14, 24-30, 22-30, 30-28, 15-13) win over Baylor on Saturday night at the Lloyd Noble Center. Restrepo's squad finishes the 2004 season with a 12-17 overall record and 4-16 mark in conference play while the Bears end the year at 12-19 and 4-16.

The match was the final in the Sooner careers of senior Keri Coats and Stephanie Tengram. Coats went out in style with a match-high 20 kills and eight block assists. Tengram was solid at defensive specialist with nine digs.

“We made some good strides and had some good wins this season,” said OU's head coach. “We need to find more consistency but this season is something to build on. If we can raise our level of intensity during the off-season we will continue to progress in this rugged conference.”

Box Score

The Sooners stormed out of the gates and won the first game 30-14. The 16-point win was the largest margin of victory for OU this season. The Bears contributed 16 attack errors in the opener which was in stark contrast to the Sooners' four.

Baylor turned the tables and took the next session 30-24. Both offenses picked up the pace with senior Keri Coats and sophomore Joanna Schmitt leading the Sooners with five kills apiece. Baylor's Kelly Spriggs put away a game-high seven kills.

The third game was similar to the previous frame with Baylor jumping ahead early and winning decisively at 30-22. Spriggs continued to charge the Bears' attack with six kills, while OU freshman Anna Stadel had six kills of her own.

For the fifth time this season OU came back from a two-game deficit to force a fifth and final game. The fourth frame was the closest of the evening with OU battling back late to claim the 30-28. Coats was huge with seven kills, while six digs from sophomore libero Anna Monsen were of equal importance. Monsen would finished with an OU rally-scoring record 21 digs, which tied her own mark.

Three early blocks in the finale sparked OU to the 15-13 win. OU finishes the season with a perfect 5-0 record in five game matches.

The Sooners were dominant at the net recording 18 roofs, their second highest total of the season. Sophomore Laura Tomes set an OU rally-scoring record with 10 block assists.

Sophomore Anna Stadel tallied two solo blocks (career-high), four block assists and 12 kills (career-high) while hitting. 458.

Sophomore Joanna Schmitt went out on a high note. She tallied her 14th double-double of the season thanks to 17 kills and 18 digs. Helping her efficiency on offense was freshman setter Julie Chester, who had 57 assists and 11 digs for the unconventional double-double.

For the fourth consecutive season OU improved its' season win total. OU won 11 matches in 2003. They also improved their Big 12 win total from the previous season by one. Statistically, OU improved over last season in every category except service aces.

The Sooners and Bears finished with identical 4-16 records in Big 12. OU finishes in 10th place since the two teams split their meetings and Baylor won the first contest in four games.

The Sooners will return six of seven starters in 2005. They will have to fill the hole left by Coats at opposite hitter, while Tengram's role as defensive specialist will likely be taken by Rachel Jackson, who has shared the role with the graduating senior for the last month.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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