Volleyball Opens Season Saturday at TCU

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball squad opens its season under second-year head coach Santiago Restrepo this Saturday, Aug. 27 against the TCU Horned Frogs inside the University Rec Center in Fort Worth, Texas at 7 p.m. The Sooners look to build off momentum from the 2004 season where they produced the school's best record since 1997 (12-17) and posted the best start in OU history (8-0).

Sooner fans can track the match through live stats via the internet at www.gofrogs.com. In addition, match audio with play-by-play analysis and commentary will be provided as well.

Saturday's meeting is only the second regular season contest between the programs. The other meeting came last season resulting in a TCU victory (3-1). Then-sophomore Joanna Schmitt posted a double-double (17 kills, 12 digs) for the Sooners, but it was not enough against the Horned Frogs. TCU's then-freshman libero Talaya Whitfield slowed down the Sooner offense with an OU opponent season-high 27 digs while TCU middle blocker Erin Estep posted a season-high seven blocks.

Game Notes (PDF) | Season Preview

TCU opens its season against the Sooners after tallying a program-best 23 wins last season (23-9) and capturing a third-place finish in its final year with the Conference USA. The Horned Frogs return five starters from last year's squad including middle blocker and senior leader Estep. The Oklahoma native produced 66 blocks last season and averaged 0.58 blocks per game for the Horned Frogs. In addition All-Conference USA outside hitter Anna Vaughn returns to the TCU lineup after averaging 3.39 kills and 0.69 blocks per game in 2004. Junior right side hitter Emily Allen, a starter in all 32 matches last season, averaged a .300 clip on 15 different occasions and claimed eight double-doubles in 2004.

While the Horned Frogs return a multitude of starters, they had two key players graduate from the 2004 squad. Three-time all-conference member Dominika Szabo and Ellen Rehme, TCU's all-time leader in kills per game with .337, will be missed in the Purple and White lineup this season. Together, the duo accounted for 44 percent of TCU's points scored.

For the Sooners, five starters from last year's squad will be back in action in 2005. Headlining the returnees is preseason All-Big 12 selection Joanna Schmitt. The outside hitter averaged 4.01 kills and 2.69 digs per game while also serving a team-best 20 aces last year. The supporting cast surrounding Schmitt will likely include senior outside hitter Gabriela Tonon, who averaged 2.61 kills per game in 2004, and junior Laura Tomes who is making the switch to right side after playing middle blocker during the 2004 campaign. Tomes led the team in blocks with a 1.27 per game average last season.

Also expect the Oklahoma newcomers to make an immediate contribution to the Sooner lineup. Junior middle blocker Eliane Santos, a two-time junior college All-American, will likely start for the Sooners and add a new dimension to the OU offense. Santos averaged 4.07 kills per game and 1.35 blocks per game at the College of Southern Idaho.

In addition to Santos, sophomores Hannah Sharp (University of Louisville) and Sarah Weiland (Tulane University) are expected to see floor time as well. Sharp, a defensive specialist, played in a reserve role for the 2005 NCAA Sweet 16 Louisville squad while Weiland, an outside hitter, averaged 3.16 kills per game with Tulane.

Following the TCU match, the Sooners will head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Hampton Inn Bama Bash. Oklahoma will face Indiana Friday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. and finish the second half of the doubleheader with NCAA qualifier Loyola (Chicago) at 4:30 p.m. The Sooners round out the four-team tournament with a Sept. 3 meeting with host school Alabama at 1:30 p.m.

KEY MATCH UP
OU Outside Hitter Joanna Schmitt
vs.
TCU Outside Hitter Anna Vaughn

The following is a brief look at the 2004 stats of each player in the key match up.

KPG DPG BPG PCT
Schmitt 4.01 2.69 0.43 .169

Vaughnn 3.39 0.67 0.69 .322

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.”

Schmitt and Restrepo Represent USA
Oklahoma volleyball head coach Santiago Restrepo and junior outside hitter Joanna Schmitt had the opportunity to represent two USA Select Teams this past June. Restrepo was selected as the co-head coach of the USA “White” Select team and teamed with former USA Volleyball assistant coach Kevin Hambly, while Schmitt represented the USA “Red” Select team led by Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert and Michigan's Mark Rosen.

“I think it was a great experience for the athletes and myself,” Restrepo said. “It was an awesome opportunity for the USA team to compete against the Argentina squads, who always have great ball control and are well-experienced. The girls got to represent USA and played in front of more than 1,000 screaming fans every night, which is great for the athletes to learn how to handle. For me personally, it was a great opportunity because I speak the language and was able to make some great connections with the Argentine coaches.”

The two squads, comprised of under-22 collegiate players, traveled Buenos Aires and the surrounding cities from June 8-18, visiting Rio Cuarto, Cordoba Capital, Parana, Villaguay and Santa Fe. Schmitt's squad (the “Red” team) tallied four wins against the Argentina National “B” Team while Restrepo's crew recorded two victories against the Argentina Youth National Team.

“It was definitely one of the most positive experiences of my life,” Schmitt said. “It was amazing to represent the United States of America and it made me realize how fortunate I am to play at the collegiate level in the USA. I truly grew as an athlete and as a person from the trip.”

The USA Select Teams consisted of 17 players from the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Missouri Valley, Southeastern, Conference USA, Northeastern and Mountain West conferences. Schmitt was one of two athletes representing the Big 12 with the other being Baylor's Emily Houston. The players were selected by the coaching staff, Tim Kelly and Cory Soloman of Bring It USA and Tom Pingel of the USVBA.

McCasland Field House Facelift
This past summer the Howard McCasland Field House, OU volleyball's home court, underwent a $6 million facelift that included a complete interior renovation comprised of a resanded and repainted floor with four efficient practice courts and chair-back seating that offers fans more comfort. In addition, the entire facility was repainted and improvements were made to the HVAC system, sound system, lighting and scoreboards. The Sooners have also enjoyed renovations done to the training room as well as an upgrade to both teams' locker rooms.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Volleyball Opens Season Saturday at TCU

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