Volleyball Season Preview: Part Two

New head coach Santiago Restrepo has given the Oklahoma volleyball program a face lift since he took over in January. Now the real work begins as the Sooners hit training camp and begin preparation for a the 2004 season. Today is the second in a four-part preview of the upcoming season, which begins at the Holiday Inn/University of Texas-Pan American Invitational on Sept. 3.

RIGHT SIDE
Something Restrepo's first Sooner squad does not lack is size and numbers. OU is one of only three Big 12 teams with three players (Keri Coats, Katy Rieger and Gabriela Tonon) standing 6-3 or better (Missouri and Texas), which will be an added bonus on the right side and in the middle.

The battle for starting rights on the opposite side will heavily influenced by who wins the starting No. 2 spot on the left side. Keri Coats is the returning starter on the right side but she will face steep competition from Sheena Werling or Tonon.

Coats was one of the most consistent attackers for OU in 2003 (second in hitting percentage at .215). Like the ace of your staff, she would improve as it got deeper into the match. The 6-4 slugger was also third on the team in blocks per game at 0.83, a number she is determined to improve upon this season. Coats can also slide over to middle blocker.

Season Preview Part One

"Keri wasn't 100 percent in the fall, so I haven't been able to truly judge her ability," said OU's head coach. "The idea of having Coats (6-4) and Tonon (6-3) on opposite ends of the court is very appealing and would create some major obstacles for opponents."

While Tonon worked solely on the left side in 2003, Werling played the best ball of her career when injuries forced her from the left side to the right near the end of the season. Werling's budding ability as a right side could make for a tight battle through camp.

Freshman Katy Rieger , who is the tallest player in the Big 12 at 6-6 and the tallest female athlete in OU history, will get some reps at right side in practice. Restrepo likes Rieger size and ability but believes she is a year away from fighting for the starting spot.

MIDDLE BLOCKER
The only spots among the starting lineup that weren't in the air heading into training camp are at middle blocker. After being the most productive middle blocking duo in at least five years, junior Jennifer Adams and Laura Tomes will once again hope to reel in opponents from the middle.

Tomes is fully recovered from a torn ACL in her right knee and is again outleaping everyone on her team. She will look too build upon a .291 hitting percentage and per game averages of 2.39 kills and 1.15 blocks (third in Big 12 in 2003).

Adams is the steadiest player on the squad. Her ability to work with teammates at the net led to a 1.11 blocks per game average last season. That average was good for sixth in the Big 12 and gives the Sooners a great young tandem for the upcoming season.

"I am confident in Jennifer and Laura at middle blocker," said Restrepo. "They both have great credentials from last season. They could anchor this team in the early going."

OU has more depth at middle blocker than any position on the squad. The aforementioned Rieger and Coats could see time in the middle, as could standout freshman Anna Stadel and junior Jennifer Mosso.

Stadel has been impressive early in training camp. She made major strides during the club season when she played on a KC Power team that featuring six Division I players and five that are playing in the Big 12. The depth ahead of her may be the biggest obstacle to Stadel seeing regular time.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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