Volleyball Travels to Baylor Wednesday

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball team (5-11, 0-7 Big 12) hits the road this Wednesday and looks to snap its eight-match losing streak when it takes on Baylor (9-9, 1-6 Big 12) in Waco, Texas. First serve between the Bears and the Sooners is set for 7 p.m. inside the Ferrell Center.

Baylor enters the contest on a six-match losing streak with its only Big 12 win coming in a 3-1 win against Texas Tech in September. The Sooners suffered a sweep by the Red Raiders a week later.

The Bears, predicted to finish in a seventh place tie with Colorado, have faced four top-25 teams in their last five matches while the Sooners have squared off against three straight ranked Big 12 opponents. Both squads are coming off four-game losses this past Saturday. OU dropped a 1-3 decision to No. 23 Texas A&M while BU suffered a loss to No. 19 Texas. The Bears and Sooners both sit in the bottom two slots of the Big 12, respectively.

Match Notes (PDF) | 2005 Season Stats | Live Stats

Baylor's strengths are on the defensive side of the ball. The Bears are fifth in the Big 12 (OU is ninth) in blocks (2.84) and fourth in the Big 12 (OU is 11th) in digs per game (14.95). In all other categories, Baylor ranks seventh or lower in the conference.

Highlighting the Baylor defense is All-Big 12 middle blocker Desiree Guilliard-Young who returned to the Baylor lineup two matches ago after missing 15 straight due to a knee injury. The 6-5 Guilliard-Young is averaging 1.36 blocks per game and is coming off her first career double-double with 10 kills and 12 blocks against No. 19 Texas this past Saturday.

Fellow starting middle blocker Stella Odion is contributing 1.12 blocks per game at the net. Adding back row presence is libero Kristen Schramek who is collecting 3.82 digs per game.

Offensively, the Bears have switched a few positions around this season and it has proved well for them. Junior Nicole LeBlanc made the move to left side hitter this season and now leads the team with 3.74 kills per game (eighth in the Big 12).
In addition, LeBlanc is collecting 2.83 digs per game (second best on team).

Other position changes included switching outside hitter Odion to middle blocker in 2005. As a MB, Odion is hitting at a team-high .318 clip (12th in the league) while averaging 3.43 kills per game.

The quarterback behind the Baylor offense is veteran senior setter Emily Huston. The four-year starter is averaging 11.78 assists per game (sixth in the Big 12) while also leading the team from behind the line with 0.38 aces per game. Huston has made herself a defensive presence as well, collecting 2.38 digs per game.

Huston was the only other Big 12 player to join OU head coach Santiago Restrepo and junior outside hitter Joanna Schmitt at the under-22 USA select squad in Argentina this past summer.

Statistically, Baylor owns the advantage in every category except for service aces where the Sooners are in the top half (fourth) of the conference with 1.72 aces per game.

Oklahoma must counter Baylor's strong defensive play with sound efforts from the OU offense. Junior Eliane Santos ranks fourth in the Big 12 with her mark of 4.22 kills per game. The two-time JUCO All-American has pounded double-digit kills in 11 of the 12 matches she has played in.

Other offensive producers include junior Joanna Schmitt who is posting 3.09 kills per game while senior Gabriela Tonon is pounding 2.29 kills per game. Sophomore Anna Stadel is coming off a career match after tallying 17 kills against No. 23 Texas A&M this past weekend.

The Sooners continue to run the 6-2 offense with setters Julie Chester (5.83 assists per game) and Rachel Jackson (6.37 APG). Since installing the offense in Big 12 action, Oklahoma is averaging 12.38 assists per game.

At the net, OU will need consistent play from Santos who is posting 1.30 stuffs per game (eighth in the Big 12) and Stadel (1.04 blocks per game).

Providing back row support will be libero Hannah Sharp who is leading the team with 3.13 digs per game.

OU vs. Baylor All-Time Series
The Sooners have taken five of the last six matches from the Bears and own a 20-12 lifetime advantage over Baylor. In matches played in Waco, the series is even at 7-7.

Last Time Out vs. The Bears
Oklahoma finished the 2004 season on a high note with a five-game victory (30-14, 24-30, 22-30, 30-28, 15-13) over the Bears in the final match of the season. Former Sooner Keri Coats finished her senior campaign in style with a match-high 20 kills and eight block assists. The Sooners also dominated the net with 18 blocks and Laura Tomes setting a rally-scoring record with 10 block assists. Also making a strong presence was Joanna Schmitt who posted her 14th double-double of the season (17 kills, 18 digs).

Time Change
Oklahoma's Saturday, Oct. 15 match against Iowa State has been rescheduled to 3 p.m inside the Howard McCasland Field House. The match, originally slated for 7 p..m., was moved due to the OU/Kansas football game taking place at 6 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.

Texas A&M Leftovers
Oklahoma faced its third straight top-25 Big 12 opponent in No. 23 Texas A&M last Saturday night. The Aggies pulled out the four-game win (25-30, 30-25, 26-30, 22-30) over the Sooners, winning their first match in the Big 12 this season. OU middle blocker Anna Stadel's career night in kills (17) wasn't enough to hold of the Aggies who tallied a .285 clip compared to the Sooners' .214. Other offensive production came from junior Eliane Santos who pounded 15 kills, marking the 11th match out of 12 she has played in to record double-digit kills. Texas A&M also owned the advantage at the net where they posted 13.0 team blocks to OU's 8.0.

Weiland = Ace
Sophomore transfer Sarah Weiland, a former Tulane product, has been a strong impact to the Sooner offense from behind the line. The outside hitter is leading the Big 12 in service aces with 34 produced this season. Behind Weiland's 0.59 per game mark, the Sooners are ranked fourth in the Big 12 (1.72 APG). Weiland has produced an ace in 13 of the 16 matches this season.

Sooners Take No. 1 Huskers To Four
Oklahoma became only the third team (at the time) to take No. 1 Nebraska to four games this season in a tough 3-1 loss to the Huskers at the Howard McCasland Field House (9/28). In addition, OU was the first Big 12 team to take Nebraska to four games.

Schmitt Breaks 1,000 Mark
In her first match back as the Sooners' starting outside hitter (9/17) after being sidelined due to an ankle injury, junior Joanna Schmitt pounded 12 kills which set her among a new category, the 1,000 kills career mark. The preseason All-Big 12 selection already led the rally-scoring era in career kills and now owns a current mark of 1,063.

Santos and Sooners Set Records
In only her sixth match as a Sooner, junior transfer Eliane Santos set an OU rally-scoring record with four solo blocks against Kansas (9/17). The previous mark for a rally-scoring match was three, held by several Sooners. In addition, Santos' efforts led the team to set a rally-scoring record with eight solo blocks by the squad. The previous mark was seven set against the exact same opponent, Kansas, in 2001.

Weiland Moves To No. 2
After posting 34 aces in her first 16 matches as a Sooner, sophomore transfer Sarah Weiland has already moved into the No. 2 spot on OU's single season list. She shares the spot with teammate Joanna Schmitt who produced 34 during the 2003 season. Weiland leads the Big 12 with 0.65 per game and only needs to 10 more to break the single season aces mark held by Jessica Barney in 2001.

Newcomer Contribution
The Sooners have had multiple newcomers who have been strong additions to the Sooner lineup. Sophomore transfers Hannah Sharp (Louisville) and Sarah Weiland (Tulane) have been consistent leading contributors to the Sooners defensively and offensively while junior transfer Eliane Santos (College of Southern Idaho) has been a dominating force. Adding defensive presence has been true freshman Lacy Barnes.

The following is a look at what each newcomer is contributing:

Eliane Santos - 4.22 kills per game; KPG ranks fourth among all Big 12 players; leads team in blocks with 1.30 per game; third on team in digs with 1.61 per game.

Hannah Sharp - team leader in digs (3.13 per game); Ranks 12th in Big 12 in DPG.

Sarah Weiland - leads Big 12 in aces with 0.59 per game; broke OU and Big 12 record with nine aces against Loyola; averaging 2.22 kills per game.

Lacy Barnes - Only freshman to start this season; averaging 1.71 digs per game this season.

Sooners Breaking Records
The Oklahoma volleyball squad has broken or tied a number of team and individual rally scoring records. Below is a list of the records:
Individual
Three Games
Kills - 19, Santos vs. UTA (9/7/05)
Assists - 56, Jackson vs. UTA (9/7/05)

Four Games
Aces - 9, Weiland vs. Loyola (9/2/05)
Kills - 23, Schmitt vs. Loyola (9/2/05)

Five Games
Solo Blocks - 4, Santos at Kansas (9/17/05)

Team
Four Games
Aces - 17, vs. Loyola (9/2/05)
Assists - 57, vs. UTA (9/7/05)

Five Games
Solo Blocks - 8, at Kansas (9/17/05)

Big 12 Dominance
The Big 12 Conference is making a strong case that it's one of the best volleyball leagues in the country. This week the conference has five teams in the AVCA Top-25 poll with No. 1 Nebraska leading the charge. In addition, the Kansas Jayhawks are receiving votes in the top-25 poll.

Jackson Breaks Assists Record
Junior Rachel Jackson set a new three-game rally-scoring record with 56 assists against UT-Arlington in the Sooners' home opener. Ironically, Jackson broke her own previous record of 46 that she set last year on the exact same date (Sept. 7) against Oral Roberts.

Sooners Set Team Assists Mark
Led by Rachel Jackson's record-breaking performance against UTA (9/7), OU set a new three-game rally-scoring team assist record of 57. The previous record of 53 was also set last year on the same day (9/7) against Oral Roberts.

Santos Shines In Opener
In her first match as a Sooner, two-time junior college All-American (College of Southern Idaho) Eliane Santos posted a double-double with 19 kills and 12 digs for the Sooners against UTA (9/7) The junior middle blocker led all players in kills and tied teammate Joanna Schmitt's mark for the most kills in a three-game rally-scoring match at OU. Schmitt set the record against Indiana earlier this year.

Schmitt Earns All-Tourney Honors
Despite not playing in the final match of the Hampton Inn Bama Bash due to injury, Oklahoma junior outside hitter Joanna Schmitt was still selected to the Hampton Inn Bama Bash All Tournament team for her efforts against Indiana and Loyola-Chicago on Friday, Sept. 2. Schmitt hit at an impressive .547 clip in tournament action while pounding 42 kills and collecting 16 digs in two matches.

In addition, The preseason All-Big 12 team member pounded a match-high 19 kills against Loyola-Chicago while hitting at an impressive .567 clip, a new career high. Schmitt's previous career high in hitting percentage was .486, set against Oral Roberts last September.

Schmitt set a new three-game rally-scoring record with her 19 kills. Schmitt held the previous mark of 18 that was set her freshman season against Drake.

Weiland Serves Up New Record
Sophomore transfer Sarah Weiland, a Tulane product, broke all sorts of records after serving up nine aces against Loyola-Chicago Friday afternoon. Weiland set an Oklahoma sideout-scoring record as well as a new rally-scoring record.

Former Sooner Sheena Werling held the rally-scoring record with six aces while Gloria Holcomb held the sideout record with eight. In addition, the Sooners totaled 17 aces which set a new team-rally scoring record.

Weiland also set new Big 12 records with her strong performance. She now holds the four-game rally scoring aces record mark in the conference. The previous record was eight and held by Katia Lara of Texas (2000). Currently, Weiland leads all Big 12 players with 15 aces on the season (1.25 per game).

Schmitt Adds Career Mark
It only took her one match into the 2005 season to break the rally-scoring career record in digs for the Sooners. Junior Joanna Schmitt, a preseason All Big 12 selection, set the new career bench mark of 622 digs after collecting a team-high 13 digs in her first outing of the season (8/27).

The Cottage Grove, Wis., native already owns the rally-scoring career mark in kills with a current tally of 990 and two more seasons ahead of her.

Additionally, Schmitt is on pace to break the rally-scoring aces mark (73) and needs only 14 more to do so. Schmitt led the team in aces in 2004 after recording 20 over the course of last season.

Schmitt Named Preseason All-Big 12
Oklahoma volleyball standout Joanna Schmitt has been chosen as a preseason All-Big 12 selection for 2005. The 5-10 junior outside hitter was picked by the league's head coaches and was one of 13 players voted to the squad.

As last year's team captain Schmitt nailed a team-leading 425 kills for an average of 4.01 kills per game, which ranked ninth among all Big 12 players. The Cottage Grove, Wis., native also produced 13 double-doubles on the season, led the team in service aces with 20 and ranked second on the team in digs with 285.

“This is a compliment to Joanna and how hard she works,” head coach Santiago Restrepo said. “All the coaches recognize what a great job she has done for us. I know she wants to improve this season and show that she belongs among this group.”

Sooners Picked To Finish Ninth
In the Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll, the OU volleyball squad was picked to finish in ninth place in the conference race. The Sooners finished ninth in 2004 above Baylor and Iowa State. Defending Big 12 Champion Nebraska and current No. 1 in the country was chosen as the preseason favorite for the conference crown.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Volleyball Travels to Baylor Wednesday

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