OU Volleyball Drops Match to Alabama

NORMAN, Okla. The Oklahoma volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday in a sweep (19-30, 26-30, 6-30) to Alabama at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide earned their third straight Hampton Inn Bama Bash title while Oklahoma dropped its first tournament match under second-year head coach Santiago Restrepo.

The Sooners owned a record of 9-0 in tourney action with Restrepo at the helm prior to today's loss. Oklahoma dropped to 3-1 while Alabama improved its record to 4-1 on the season.

The Sooners were playing without preseason All Big 12 member Joanna Schmitt, who suffered an injury in Friday's match against Loyola-Chicago. However, the junior outside hitter was still selected to the Hampton Inn Bama Bash All Tournament team for her efforts against Indiana and Loyola-Chicago on Friday. Schmitt hit at an impressive .547 clip in tournament action while pounding 42 kills and collecting 16 digs in two matches.

Box Score: OU vs. Alabama | Updated 2005 Stats

While OU's offense struggled with a .153 hitting percentage against Alabama, the host school was hitting on all cylinders. The Crimson Tide hit .580 for the match, an opponent high under Restrepo at Oklahoma. Leading the charge for Alabama was senior Kelley Potter with 14 kills while sophomore Megan Hudson added 11.

Highlighting the Sooner offense were sophomores Anna Stadel and Sarah Weiland who tallied 10 kills each for OU. Senior Gabriela Tonon didn't record double-digit kills for the first time this season. The outside hitter was two off the mark after posting eight in Saturday's match.

Junior Rachel Jackson and sophomore Julie Chester split the setting duties with Jackson recording 17 assists and Chester besting her with 18.

Defensively, sophomore Hannah Sharp continued to show consistency after leading the Sooners in digs for the second straight match. The transfer from Louisville collected eight digs against the Crimson Tide.

Oklahoma looks to bounce back when it hosts UT-Arlington in its home opener this Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. inside the newly remodeled Howard McCasland Field House. The match will be shown live on the O-Zone at SoonerSports.com.

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