OU Set for Road Test in Manhattan

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 24 Oklahoma volleyball team continues its road stretch this week as it heads to Manhattan, Kan. to take on the Kansas State Wildcats (8-10, 0-8 Big 12) this Saturday at 1 p.m. The contest, originally slated for 7 p.m., was moved due to the Kansas State football game Saturday night.

The Sooners are currently sitting in second place in the Big 12 standings and are riding a six-match winning streak, including a perfect 4-0 record in Big 12 road play. Oklahoma owns a 15-3 overall mark and 7-1 league record with its only loss to No. 1 and undefeated Nebraska.

LIVE STATS
Fans can track live stats of Saturday afternoon's match on Kansas State's web site at www.kstatesports.com.

Cumulative Stats | Match Notes | Live Stats

THE MATCH UP
The Kansas State Wildcats opened the season ranked No. 25 in the CSTV/AVCA poll and went on a seven-match winning streak during the non-conference portion of the schedule including a win over then-No. 23 Notre Dame. However, the Wildcats have struggled since the start of Big 12 play and are still looking for their first Big 12 win of the season.

KSU, who was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll, is currently on a nine-match losing skid which includes three losses to Missouri, Texas an Nebraska - all top-25 teams. Additionally, the Wildcats have dropped three close five-game victories in Big 12 play.

Statistically, Kansas State and Oklahoma have similar defensive statistics with K-State owning the slight advantage with 15.99 digs to OU's 15.03.

However, the Sooners are holding Big 12 opponents to a .175 hitting percentage, which ranks second among all Big 12 schools.

Saturday afternoon will be a battle as OU will put its perfect Big 12 road record to the test while Kansas State, who has won the last 14 straight against the Sooners, will be fighting for its first conference victory.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE
The Wildcats made their 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament last year, but faced the challenge of replacing All-Big 12 first team outside hitter Agata Rezende who led the squad in kills last season.

Replacing Rezende this season is the lone senior on the squad - outside hitter Sandy Werner. Werner is leading the team with 3.72 kills per game on a .191 clip while she is surrounded by a supporting cast. Starters Jenny Jantsch (2.54 KPG), Megan Kroeker (2.52 KPG) and Ginta Gabruseva (2.12 KPG) are also adding offensive presence to the lineup. Kroeker is the squad's most consistent hitter with a .308 hitting percentage.

Defensively, the Wildcats bring a tough block to the net as they are ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 2.82 blocks per game in Big 12 action. It will be a strong battle at the net as Oklahoma is second in the Big 12 with 3.37 blocks per conference game.

Kroeker leads KSU in stuffs with 1.47 BPG, which ranks third in the conference and is aided by Gabruseva (0.79 BPG), Werner (0.63 BPG) and Jantsch (0.53 BPG).

One of the top defenders on the K-State squad is returning libero Angie Lastra, who is one of the top liberos in the Big 12. In Big 12 matches only, Lastra has been exceptional as she leads the Big 12 Conference with 5.18 DPG.

SERIES RECORDS
OU leads the all-time series against Kansas State 40-23-1, but the Wildcats have won the last 14 straight. OU's last victory against KSU was Oct. 31, 1998 in Norman. When the match is played in Manhattan, OU holds the slight advantage, 13-11. Oklahoma's last victory in Manhattan was Nov. 7, 1997.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Oklahoma faced Kansas State in its final match of the regular season last year as the Wildcats swept the Sooners (30-17, 30-25, 30-28) in Manhattan, Kan. KSU held the Sooners to a .126 while recording its own hitting percentage of .292 against the Sooners. Eliane Santos highlighted the slim offense for the Sooners as she recorded 13 kills on a .345 clip.

UP NEXT: NO. 15 MISSOURI
Oklahoma begins a tough stretch in its schedule next week as it hosts No. 15 Missouri, its fourth top-25 team to play this season, next Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. inside the Howard McCasland Field House. After playing the Tigers, OU will head to Austin for a rematch against No. 10 Texas, whom the Sooners upset earlier this year, at 6:30 p.m. next Saturday.

TEXAS TECH IN REVIEW
In its biggest come back of the season, the Sooners rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to earn their first win in Lubbock since 1997 with a five-game win (21-30, 18-30, 30-25, 30-24, 15-8). The Sooner offense struggled in the first two games as it recorded 23 errors and only hit -.045 and .026 in the games, respectively. However, OU limited its errors to 18 in the final three frames and hit .302 in game four and .360 in game five as the Sooners extended their winning streak to six.

OU NATIONALLY
Oklahoma has been one of the top teams in the NCAA in various offensive categories. To the left is a look at where Oklahoma stands in the NCAA rankings as of all matches prior to Oct. 10.

NCAA Team Rankings

Category	Stat	Rank
Kills per game	16.23	28th
Blocks per game	3.18	18th

NCAA Individual Rankings

Assists per game	Stat	Rank
Rachel Jackson	13.74	4th
Hitting Percentage
Laura Tomes	.416	16th

BIGGEST COME BACK SINCE 2004
OU's victory against Texas Tech marked the first time in two years that Oklahoma rallied to win a match after a 2-0 deficit. OU's last win after a 2-0 deficit was a win over Texas-Pan American on Sept. 4, 2004. During that match, OU had to come back from a 28-30 and 25-30 deficit.

SOONERS MOVE TO NO. 24 IN CSTV/AVCA TOP-25 POLL
Ranked for the first time in 18 years, the Oklahoma volleyball squad moved up one spot to No. 24 in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll released Oct. 9. This season marks the first time the OU volleyball program has been ranked since 1988, when it finished with a 23-9 overall mark and 8-4 record in Big Eight play. Prior to this season's ranking, 1988 marked the only season in the 32-year history of the OU volleyball program that it was ranked in the top 25 poll.

SOONERS PERFECT ON BIG 12 ROAD
Oklahoma and Nebraska remain the only teams in the Big 12 Conference with a perfect road record in conference play. With its win against Texas Tech, the Sooners improved to 4-0 in league matches on the road. Other Big 12 wins away from home were against Texas A&M, Iowa State and Colorado, all of whom were receiving votes in the top-25 the week that Oklahoma beat them.

PLAYER TO WATCH: ANNA MONSEN
One of five seniors on this year's squad, libero Anna Monsen has been instrumental in OU's turnaround season. Monsen earned the starting libero spot towards the final half of the Big 12 season in 2005 and has been improving ever since.

The Wisconsin native is third in the conference with her 4.90 digs per game in Big 12 matches and has come up huge in big matches for the Sooners.

Against top-25 teams this season, Monsen has averaged 5.55 digs per game, including a career-high of 30 in OU's upset over Texas this season.

BEST START
18 matches into the season, the Sooners are off to their best start since 1984 when OU went 15-3 to start off the season. Additionally, OU's 7-1 record in Big 12 play marks its best start in Big 12 history. The last time OU started off the season 7-1 or better in conference play was in 1987 when the Sooners opened the Big Eight Conference stretch with a 7-1 mark.

MOST WINS SINCE 1997
With a 15-3 record and a little more than a half of the season completed, Oklahoma has already accumulated more wins than any other squad since the 1997 team. That season marked OU's last trip to the NCAA Tournament as the team finished with a 20-13, and 13-7 mark in Big 12 play. With a current 7-1 Big 12 mark, it also marks the most league wins since 1997.

BLOCK PARTY
Traditionally when people think of the top blocking team in the Big 12, perennial powerhouse Nebraska comes to mind. However, Oklahoma is working on taking over that title as the Sooners are second among all Big 12 schools in league matches with a 3.37 block per game average.

SOONER SWEEPS
The Oklahoma volleyball team is off to one of its best starts in history and not only is the squad winning, it is doing it in convincing fashion. Oklahoma has swept in 12 of its 15 victories this season. Additionally, the squad set a school record with seven consecutive sweeps from Sept. 2 - Sept. 13.

MAKING HISTORY
The 2006 version of the Oklahoma volleyball squad has been all about making history and defying the odds. Below is a list of the accomplishments the squad has achieved this season.

* Win over then-No. 8 Texas marks first -time ever OU has beaten Texas in volleyball and the first time since 1998 that OU beat a top-25 team.

* A sweep of Texas A&M marked the first time OU had beaten Texas A&M since 1979 and its first victory ever in College Station. It was also the first time in the history of the Big 12 that OU collected an opening Big 12 road win.

* Oklahoma beat Colorado for the first time in Boulder since Oct. 13, 1988

* OU cracked the top-25 polls on Oct. 2 for the first time since 1988.

* The Sooners victory over Kansas marked the first time OU won against the Jayhawks since Nov. 8, 1997.

* With a come-from-behind 3-2 win, OU beat Texas Tech in Lubbock for the first time since Oct. 18, 1997.

SOONERS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
OU's win against No. 8 Texas marked the school's first win over a ranked team since 1998 (a victory over then-No. 22 Kansas State). Prior to OU's win, the Sooners had faced 53 ranked opponents, but couldn't pull out a win over any of the top-25 opponents.

SCHMITT APPROACHING HISTORICAL MARK
OU's career rally-scoring leader in kills and digs, Joanna Schmitt, is approaching another career milestone. The senior outside hitter is approaching the 1,000 kill/1,000 dig career mark that only four other Sooners have held in OU history. Schmitt needs 28 more digs this season to reach the 1,000 plateau. While Schmitt will become the fourth Sooner in history to accomplish the feat, she would become the first Sooner in the rally-scoring era to reach the 1,000 kill and dig mark.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Through 18 matches, last season Oklahoma owned a 5-13 overall mark and an 0-9 mark in Big 12 play. In 2006, the Sooners have already surpassed last year's win total in conference and overall and a comparison of the stats below shows what a difference a year makes.

Through 18 Matches 2005 2006

Kills per game	14.32	16.05
Assists per game	13.18	14.74
Digs per game	11.57	15.03
Blocks per game	2.62	3.10

CONSISTENT TOMES
Entering the season head coach Santiago Restrepo said Laura Tomes had made the biggest strides during the offseason in terms of her strength and power. So it is no surprise to Restrepo that Tomes is having a breakout season during her senior campaign.

Tomes has been the Sooners most consistent hitter this season as she is leading the team with a .404 clip in addition to a 3.35 kill per game average. Not only does Tomes lead the OU team, she is second in the Big 12 through all matches with her impressive clip and is currently ranked 16th in the nation with her hitting percentage.

SEEING DOUBLE
Outside hitter Joanna Schmitt has been the Sooners' go-to-girl this season. It is no surprise as the senior captain is leading the team with a 4.25 kills per game average and has recorded eight double-doubles already this season.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES

#1 JULIE CHESTER
Battled for a starting setter spot during the preseason but has seen minimal playing time this season ... Only start of the season came against Texas Southern where she recorded 39 assists in three games.

#2 RACHEL JACKSON
Second in the conference with 13.63 assists per game in Big 12 matches ... Set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 73 assists in OU's win over No. 8 Texas .... Leading the squad to the third-best hitting percentage in the Big 12.

#3 ANNA STADEL
A consistent starter for the Sooners last season but playing time has diminished this season ... Has started in six of OU's matches this season ... Saw action in one game against Kansas where she recorded one kill on a .500 clip.

#4 LAURA TOMES
Most improved player this season ... Her .404 clip ranks second among all Big 12 players ... Most consistent hitter for the Sooners this season ... Led Sooners in win over Texas Tech with 18 kills.

#5 LACY BARNES
The DS pounded the match-winning ace in OU's sweep of Iowa State ... Waiting her turn to start behind veteran defensive specialists Anna Monsen and Hannah Sharp.

#6 SARAH WEILAND
Outside hitter is only Sooner to start every match this season ... An offensive threat averaging 1.87 KPG on a .217 clip.

#8 JOANNA SCHMITT
Offensive leader for the Sooners ... Leads team with eight double-doubles on the season ... Owns team-best 4.25 kills per game ... Has almost twice as many attacks as any other Sooner.

#9 BRIDGET LAPLANTE
A huge contribution to this year's lineup ... Has really turned it on in Big 12 play ... Made the difference in OU's victory over No. 8 Texas with her first career double-double (20 kills, 12 digs) .. Owns three double-doubles on the year.

#10 ANNA MONSEN
Set a school record with 30 digs against the talented No. 8 Texas offense ... Leads team with 4.69 digs per game.

#11 FRANCIE EKWEREKWU
Planning to redshirt this season.

#12 ELIANE SANTOS
2006 Preseason All-Big 12 Selection ... OU's leading force at the net with 1.44 BPG ... Recorded 11 blocks in Texas victory.

#13 MARIANA BLUM
Two-time juco All-American at Hutchinson Community College ... Still adjusting to NCAA Division I style of volleyball ... Often subs in for her serving.

#14 HANNAH SHARP
A defensive replacement sub that has played in every game this season ... Shares team-high 17 aces with Rachel Jackson.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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