Schmitt Named MVP Of Latest Tourney

NORMAN, Okla. Two nonconference tournaments for the Oklahoma volleyball team and two championships. Eight matches and eight wins. Two tourneys and as of Sunday, two tournament Most Valuable Player awards for OU outside hitter Joanna Schmitt. Schmitt was named MVP of the BYU Mizuno Classic early Sunday morning after leading OU to a 3-0 record and tourney title this weekend.

Schmitt averaged a team-high 3.92 kills per game during tournament action. She also played solid defense with 2.31 digs per game and 0.46 blocks per game.

“Joanna is the leader of this team,” said first year head coach Santiago Restrepo. “She is fulfilling that responsibility in the huddle, at practice and during competition. She has stepped up for the team and is very deserving of this award.”

It marks the third time Schmitt has been named a tournament MVP and fourth all-tournament honor of her young career. This season she was also the named the MVP of the season-opening Holiday Inn UTPA Invitational, while last year she garnered the top honor at the Chattanooga Invitational.

For sophomore Rachel Jackson it is the first such honor of her career. Jackson was the only setter named to the all-tournament team. The Arlington, Texas native was solid on all fronts with a averages of 12.23 assists, 2.38 digs and 0.85 blocks per game. She also added eight kills and a team-high seven aces while recording a .389 hitting percentage.

“Since we changed to a one-setter system, Rachel has really stepped up her play,” said Restrepo. “As the competition has improved, so has her game, which is very encouraging with the Big 12 season now upon us.”

The sophomore duo have played a major role in the Sooners' program record start of 8-0. OU's eight match winning streak is the longest since the 1996 squad reeled off nine straight. The longest winning streak in OU volleyball history is 16 set by the 1980 team. Texas (7-0), Kansas (7-0) and OU are the only remaining undefeated teams in the Big 12.

The Sooners open the Big 12 schedule at Texas Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Big 12 home opener is against Iowa State on Friday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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