Volleyball Cracks into Top-25 Poll

NORMAN, Okla. - The historical season continues for the Oklahoma volleyball team as it received a No. 25 ranking in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll released Monday afternoon. It 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.

During the 1988 season, the Sooners opened the year unranked, but finished the season with a No. 13 overall ranking in the final poll. Prior to this week'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.

CSTV/AVCA Top-25 Poll | 2006 Schedule

“It is exciting to be included with such a great group of elite teams,” head coach Santiago Restrepo said. “It's always great to get recognition, but at the same time we must stay humble and hungry in order to keep achieving all our goals while also getting better every step of the way.”

The No. 25 Sooners are one of four teams from the Big 12 Conference listed in this week's poll. Undefeated Nebraska is ranked No. 1 for the sixth straight week while Texas, whom the Sooners upset last week, comes in at No. 11 and Missouri follows with a No. 17 ranking.

The OU volleyball team is off to its best start in Big 12 history with a 12-3 overall record and a 4-1 mark in league play.

Additionally, the Sooners have made other historical leaps this season as they beat Texas, ranked No. 8 at the time, last week for the first time ever in the history of the all-time series. Prior to its Texas upset the Sooners swept Texas A&M in College Station, beating the Aggies for the first time in 27 years.

“I'm excited for our team, but we must come back to reality and realize we have a very tough opponent in Baylor this week,” Restrepo said. “It is very important that we keep our focus and keep growing every week.”

After its five-match win against Colorado this past Saturday, OU now owns a three-match win streak and will put that to the test this week. The Sooners will host the Baylor Bears (13-4, 2-3 Big 12) this Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside the Howard McCasland Field House.

Oklahoma will wrap up its two-match home stand with a 7 p.m. contest against Kansas Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Norman.

Admission to all OU volleyball home matches is $7 for adults and $5 for children. All OU students are admitted free with an OU ID.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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