Volleyball Preps For Season Opener

NORMAN, Okla. -- A new era in Oklahoma volleyball officially begins Friday when the Sooners and new head coach Santiago Restrepo head south to Edinburg, Texas for the Texas-Pan American Invitational. Oklahoma will play doubleheaders Friday and Saturday during the round robin tournament.

Restrepo's first challenge will come against Providence College on Friday morning at 11. Providence struggled to a 3-24 record last season while playing as an independent. The Friars return five starters, including senior middle blocker Ayana Cadres, who averaged 3.48 kills and 1.76 digs per game as a junior. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Friday evening OU and Louisiana-Monroe will meet at 5 p.m. The Sooners look to topple the Indians for the third time in the last three seasons. The Indians went 7-27 in 2003, including a three-set loss to OU. The Sooners set a rally-scoring three game record with 11 aces against ULM in 2003. On the individual side, sophomore Laura Tomes tied a record by hitting at a .619 clip and junior Sheena Werling set a record with five aces.

Saturday kicks off for OU with a 3 p.m. tilt against Grambling State. The Tigers played one of the biggest schedules in Division I volleyball last season and came away with a 27-22 record. GSU is led by Latasha Smith who averaged 4.40 kills and 2.31 digs per game last season.

The Sooners wrap up the first weekend of the season with a 5 p.m. contest against host Texas-Pan American. The Broncos return five starters from a squad that went 19-15 as an independent in 2003. Defensive specialist Carol Marcengo averaged 5.09 digs per game last season and is considered the top returner for UTPA.

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The Sooners will have a quick turn-around before facing Oral Roberts in the home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Mid Continental Conference coaches predicted that ORU would win its seventh league title in the last eight years. ORU went 21-14 last season, which included a four-game home loss to OU. At the time last season, OU was just the fourth team to defeat ORU in the last 95 home matches. ORU returns all seven starters.

FIRST SERVE
After admitting two weeks ago that he had 21 different lineup options to filter through, OU head coach Santiago Restrepo is closing in on a starting seven as the season opener quickly approaches.

2003 Big 12 Freshman of the Year finalist Joanna Schmitt will fill the No. 1 spot at outside hitter. Three players are fighting for the remaining two spots on the outside (No. 2 on the left and right side). Keri Coats is the favorite at right-side hitter, but she will have to hold off the loser in the fight for the No. 2 spot on the left side. The contest between junior-transfer Gabriela Tonon and junior Sheena Werling could go down to the final practice of the preseason.

At setter, Restrepo is still considering a 6-2 offense with freshman Julie Chester and returning starter Rachel Jackson. The decision will be made based on the consistency of each player in the final week of preseason practice.

Returning starters Jennifer Adams and Laura Tomes have again solidified starting nods at middle blocker. The duo finished third (Tomes) and sixth (Adams) in the Big 12 in blocks per game in 2003.

A combination of freshman Anna Monsen and senior Stephanie Tengram will run at defensive specialist and libero. The player that is serving with the highest efficiency will likely play at defensive specialist.

HEALTH REPORT
Several Sooners underwent off-season surgery and have returned to full action this fall. The most significant injury was a torn ACL by Laura Tomes. Tomes, who has torn the ligament in both knees is fully recovered and has regained nearly all of her tremendous leaping ability. Sophomore Joanna Schmitt hasn't lost any noticeable velocity after offseason shoulder surgery. Senior Keri Coats didn't have surgery but she has finally recovered from the stress fracture in her right ankle. Sophomore Jennifer Mosso had surgery on her right wrist for the second time in her collegiate career. Unfortunately, she partially tore the meniscus in her left knee just before camp. She had successful surgery but will be sidelined for at least the next three weeks.

SCHMITT EXPECTED TO BE CATALYST
Leading into a season with many questions surrounding the OU volleyball program there is one player that no one is concerned with.

Joanna Schmitt.

She has quietly taken on the vocal role of team leader and is once again pounding balls inside the lines for the Sooners. She has quickly and fully recovered from offseason surgery on her right shoulder. If she has lost any velocity from the procedure, it certainly hasn't been noticed by the staff.

The sophomore will try to build on a tremendous debut season that landed her among the finalist for the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The Wisconsin native finished fourth in the Big 12 with 4.32 kills per game and improved her numbers during the conference season to 4.44 per. She became just the sixth Sooner and third Big 12 freshman to record 500 kills and 300 digs in a single season.

The kills totals (505) may be tough to reach again in 2004 because the new coaching staff hopes to run a more balanced offense.

Although an improvement in her hitting percentage, .141 last season, could have an additive effect on her kill totals. The efficiency number was the only knock on the 19-year old's game last season. She has focused on her consistency this fall.

If she can lead her team to an improved Big 12 record while continuing to improve her overall game, Schmitt could become OU's first all-conference selection since 1997.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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