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November 07, 2005 | Volleyball
NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball squad faces a rematch with the Kansas Jayhawks this Wednesday, Nov. 9 inside the Howard McCasland Field House. The second meeting between the two squads is slated for 7 p.m.
In addition, Wednesday night's match will feature Norman Community Night. All Norman residents in attendance will receive a free OU volleyball gift.
KANSAS PREVIEW
In the earlier contest between the squads this season, Kansas pulled out the close five-game victory in Lawrence. Both teams have struggled since that last meeting with KU dropping 10 of its last 13 and falling out of the top-25 poll recently. The Sooners have only claimed one victory along their 14-match stretch since last meeting the Jayhawks.
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However, the Jayhawks arrive with momentum after upsetting in-state rival and then-No. 24 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., this past Saturday. KU, currently sitting at eighth in the Big 12 standings, took the Wildcats in four games.
Oklahoma arrives after playing a grueling schedule last week against No. 1 Nebraska and No. 12 Missouri. The Sooners were swept by both top-25 squads.
Statistically, the Jayhawks are in the middle of the pack of the Big 12. Their strengths are on the defensive front where they are averaging 1.62 digs per game (third in the Big 12) and are holding their opponents to a .206 hitting percentage (sixth in the Big 12).
KU's back row leader is junior libero Jamie Mathewson who is averaging 3.40 digs per game (ninth in the Big 12). KU has three other Jayhawks averaging more than 2.0 digs per game.
At the net, Oklahoma barely owns the advantage with 2.77 blocks per game to KU's 2.68 BPG. The leader for the Jayhawks is preseason All-Big 12 middle blocker Josi Lima who is averaging 0.99 BPG while Oklahoma leader Eliane Santos is tallying 1.47 BPG.
Offensively, the Jayhawks are powered by Lima as well. The middle blocker is tallying 3.41 KPG and owns a .220 hitting percentage.
Other contributors to the Jayhawk squad that is averaging 15.33 kills per game are senior outside hitter Paula Caten (3.17 KPG) and sophomore right side hitter Emily Brown (2.98 KPG).
Quarterbacking the Kansas offense is four-year starter Andi Rozum who averages 12.84 assists per game (fourth in the Big 12).
OU VS. KANSAS ALL-TIME SERIES
Wednesday night's meeting will mark the 61st meeting between the schools with Oklahoma leading 37-24. In meetings in Norman, OU leads 20-9. The Jayhawks have won the last eight straight against the Sooners, including the past three in Norman. OU's last win against KU was a 3-1 win over the Jayhawks on Sept. 22, 2001 in Norman.
LAST TIME OUT VS. THE JAYHAWKS
Wednesday's match up will mark the second meeting between both squads this season. The Jayhawks took a five-game win (30-28, 23-30, 27-30, 30-14, 15-13) from the Sooners on September 7 in Lawrence, Kan. Oklahoma only hit at a .182 clip compared to KU's .236. However, OU did have four Sooners tally double-digit kills for the Oklahoma offense, but the 37 attack errros were costly. KU's preseason All-Big 12 middle blocker Josi Lima paced the way for the Jayhawks, recording a match-high 21 kills.
NEXT UP FOR THE SOONERS
Following the Kansas match, Oklahoma will have the rest of the week off as it is scheduled for a bye on Saturday. The Sooners will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 16 for rematch with Iowa State in Ames, Iowa at 7 p.m.
The Sooners will return home for its last home stretch of the season with senior night against Baylor on Nov. 19 and its final home match of the season on Nov. 23 against Texas.
MISSOURI LEFTOVERS
Oklahoma suffered its second loss of the season to Missouri in a 3-0 (30-20, 30-21, 30-28) Tiger win at the Howard McCasland Field House this past Saturday. Similar to the earlier match this season against Missouri, Oklahoma's errors were costly. The Sooners tallied 26 attack errors and only hit at a .141 clip while the Tigers, who lead the Big 12 in kills per game, were impressive offensively, recording a .331 hitting percentage in the three-game match. Oklahoma also hurt itself from behind the line where it posted 10 service errors. Sophomore Sarah Weiland was the offensive leader for the night collecting her first double double of the season (14 kills, 14 digs).
MONSEN ON A ROLL
Since entering the lineup as the libero in the past five matches, junior Anna Monsen has been impressive. The defensive specialist has opened the match at libero in the past four of five matches and has averaged 5.06 digs per game during that time. In OU's win over Texas Tech, Monsen set a five-game rally-scoring record with 26 digs against the Red Raiders.
RECORD SETTING MATCH
The Sooners set three records in their win over Texas Tech, adding to the seven they had already set this season. Adding to Anna Monsen's record night, Anna Stadel and Eliane Santos recorded 10 block assists each, eclipsing the previous mark for a rally-scoring five-game match of 9. With the middle blockers' efforts, the squad also set a team block assist mark with 42 block assists in the match.
OFFENSIVE COMPARISON
Since the arrival of head coach Santiago Restrepo last season, the Oklahoma statistics continue to improve. In 2004, OU improved in every major statistical category. The same can be said in 2005. Through 24 matches of the 29-match season, Oklahoma has made improvements in every offensive category. Below is a comparison of the 2004 season stats with OU's numbers so far this season:
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STADEL TOPS RECORD BOOK
After posting one solo block against Texas A&M, sophomore Anna Stadel became the OU career rally-scoring leader in solo blocks with 28. The previous record was held by Candice Woods (2001-02) who had 27 in her career.
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 40 produced this season. Behind Weiland's 0.47 per game mark, the Sooners are ranked fourth in the Big 12 (1.49 APG). Weiland has produced an ace in 17 of the 24 matches this season.
WEILAND MOVES TO NO. 2 ON LIST
After posting 40 aces in her first 24 matches at Oklahoma, sophomore transfer Sarah Weiland has already moved into the No. 2 spot on OU's single season list. Weiland leads the Big 12 with 0.47 per game and only needs four 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.
The following is a look at what each newcomer is contributing:
Eliane Santos - 3.92 kills per game; KPG ranks fourth among all Big 12 players; leads team in blocks with 1.47 per game; third among Big 12 players in BPG; averaging 1.27 digs per game.
Hannah Sharp - team leader in digs (2.60 per game)
Sarah Weiland - leads Big 12 in aces with 0.47 per game; broke OU and Big 12 record with nine aces against Loyola; averaging 2.40 kills per game.
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 four teams in the AVCA Top-25 poll with No. 1 Nebraska leading the charge. In addition, Kansas State is receiving votes in the top-25 poll.
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.
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 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 SETS 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.