Kansas Visits No. 25 OU Saturday

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 25 Oklahoma volleyball team will put its four-match win streak to the test this Saturday as it hosts the Kansas Jayhawks (8-8, 1-6 Big 12) at 7 p.m. inside the Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners currently sit at third place in the Big 12 standings behind No.1 Nebraska (14-0, 6-0 Big 12) and No. 17 Missouri (12-4, 6-1 Big 12).

PROMOTIONS
The first 250 fans to walk through the door to Saturday night's match will receive free OU pom poms.

TICKETS
Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children. All OU students are admitted free with an OU ID.

LIVE STATS
Live stats of the entire match will be available on SoonerSports.com. Additionally, O-Zone viewers will have the opportunity to view the match live as it will also be broadcast on OU's web site.

Live Stats | Live O-Zone

THE MATCH UP
Oklahoma enters Saturday's match up on a four-match winning streak while Kansas is currently riding a four-match losing streak. With a 1-6 mark in conference play, KU's lone Big 12 victory came in a five-game win over Texas A&M.

Three of KU's six losses in league action came against top-20 teams while also dropping close five-game matches to Colorado and Arkansas, whom the Sooners lost to in their opening match of the season.

Oklahoma's largest advantage comes at the net where it leads all Big 12 teams (in conference matches only) with 3.55 blocks per game while Kansas is last in the conference with 1.96 blocks per game.

SCOUTING KANSAS
Head coach Santiago Restrepo will be looking for his first victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in his career as they have been successful against the Sooners in the Big 12 era. OU's last victory in the series was on September 22, 2001 in Norman.

Offensively, Kansas graduated All-Big 12 middle blocker Jose Lima, but replaced her with Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart. However, Uhart went down with a knee injury in a preseason scrimmage and has yet to see any playing time for the Jayhawks.

Stepping up offensively for KU so far this season has been preseason All-Big 12 selection Emily Brown who is pounding 3.50 kills per game while senior outside hitter is leading the team for the second straight year with 4.16 kills per game. A third offensive threat comes from middle blocker Savannah Noyes who is recording 3.24 kills per game on a .290 clip.

Overall the KU offense is recording 15.91 kills per game (fourth in the Big 12) on a .230 clip (eighth in the conference). In conference play, the tough competition has slowed the Jayhawks as they own a .176 hitting percentage (last in the Big 12) and are averaging 14.27 KPG (eighth in the conference).

On the defensive side of the ball, KU is collecting 15.35 digs per game against conference opponents while recording 1.96 blocks per game.

Libero Jamie Mathweson is leading the team with 3.62 digs per game while Noyes is highlighting the Jayhawks at the net with 0.86 blocks per game.

SERIES RECORDS
OU leads the all-time series between both squads, 37-25. However, Kansas has won 15 of the last 16 matches against the Sooners. OU's last victory over the Jayhawks was a 3-1 win in Norman on Sept. 22, 2001. In the all-time matches held in Norman, OU holds the 18-10 advantage.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Kansas handed the Sooners two losses last season with a five-game win in Lawrence and a 3-1 victory in Norman. The two teams' final meeting last season was in Norman as Kansas used a .242 hitting percentage to beat the Sooners (30-27, 27-30, 23-30, 28-30). Oklahoma struggled offensively as it only recorded a .136 clip despite Joanna Schmitt's 21-kill outing.

UP NEXT: TEXAS TECH
After spending the entire week at home, the Sooners will hit the road for a pair of road matches next week. Oklahoma will head to Lubbock next Wednesday to take on the Red Raiders at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Oklahoma will match up against Kansas State at 7 p.m.

BAYLOR IN REVIEW
Following an emotional week after beating Texas for the first-time ever and earning its first ranking in the top-25 in close to 20 years, the Oklahoma volleyball team did not let up. The Sooners recorded their 11th sweep of the year with a 3-0 victory over Baylor Wednesday night at the McCasland Field House. Freshman Bridget Laplante continued to shine in Big 12 action as she led all players with 15 kills.

OU CRACKS INTO TOP-25 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1988
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, Oct. 2. 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. 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.

OU NATIONALLY
Oklahoma has been one of the top teams in the NCAA in various offensive categories. Below is a look at where Oklahoma stands in the NCAA rankings. These are the current rankings as of Oct. 3, 2006.

NCAA Team Rankings

Category	Stat	Rank
Kills per game	16.20	28th
Blocks per game	3.11	25th

NCAA Individual Rankings

Assists per game	Stat	Rank
Rachel Jackson	13.57	6th
Hitting Percentage
Laura Tomes	.436	9th

SOONERS PERFECT ON BIG 12 ROAD
With its five-game win over Colorado this past Saturday, the Oklahoma volleyball squad is a perfect 3-0 in Big 12 road matches. The Sooners had previously swept Texas A&M and Iowa State on the road. Ironically, all three of these teams were receiving votes in the top-25 when OU handed them a loss.

BEST START
16 matches into the season, the Sooners are off to their best start since 1984 when OU went 13-3 to start off the season. Additionally, OU's 5-1 record in Big 12 play marks its best in Big 12 history. The last time OU started off the season 5-1 or better in conference play was in 1993 when the Sooners opened the Big Eight Conference stretch with a 5-1 mark.

PLAYER TO WATCH: BRIDGET LAPLANTE
The rookie entered the starting lineup eight matches ago and has been a key to OU's success in conference play. During Big 12 action the outside hitter is second on the squad with 3.41 kills per game while collecting 2.18 digs per game and recording 0.59 blocks per game.

In addition, Laplante has stepped up when the competition has gotten better. Against ranked teams, the Houston native is averaging 3.00 kills per game while being a strong force at the net with 0.79 blocks per game.

FIRST GAME = VICTORY
It has been crucial for OU to jump out on top of its opponent this season as it has won 12 of its 13 matches this season after clinching the first game. In the Sooners' three lone losses this season, they were unsuccessful in the first frame. Colorado marked the only squad OU dropped its first game to, but rallied back for the win.

BLOCK PARTY
Traditionally when people think of the top blocking team in the Big 12, perennial powerhouse Nebraska comes to mind. However, Oklahoma is taking over that title so far this season as the Sooners are leading all Big 12 schools in league matches with a 3.55 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 11 of its 13 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 marks 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.

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

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 51 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 16 matches, last season Oklahoma owned a 4-12 overall mark and an 0-8 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 16 Matches 2005 2006

Kills per game	14.13	16.09
Assists per game	13.08	14.76
Digs per game	11.82	14.87
Blocks per game	2.54	3.14

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 .435 clip in addition to a 3.35 kill per game average. Not only does Tomes lead the OU team, she is also leading all Big 12 players through all matches with her impressive clip and is currently ranked seventh 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 4.31 kills per game average and has recorded seven double-doubles already this season.

SOONER HITTING PERCENTAGE
Another goal for the Sooner squad this season was improved hitting percentage and it looks like the extra offseason work paid off for the team. Last season, Oklahoma finished 10th in the Big 12 with a .180 clip. Currently the Sooners own a team hitting percentage of .253, second in the Big 12, and have three Sooners hitting .300 or better.

OU'S ELIANE SANTOS EARNS PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 HONORS
Oklahoma volleyball senior Eliane Santos was one of 13 players selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team, which is voted on by the league's head coaches.

The 6-5 middle blocker had a break-out season in her first year with the Sooners. The junior transfer led the squad in kills (3.86 per game) and blocks (1.57 per game), both of which ranked fifth among all Big 12 players. She was also selected by Collegiate Volleyball Update as one of the top five blockers in the country.

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
Averaging 13.549 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 second-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 ... Played in only two games of Big 12 action so far.

#4 LAURA TOMES
Most improved player this season ... Her .435 clip ranks second among all Big 12 players ... Most consistent hitter for the Sooners this season.

#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 1.89 KPG on a .218 clip.

#8 JOANNA SCHMITT
Offensive leader for the Sooners ... Owns seven double-doubles on the season ... Leads team with 4.31 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).

#10 ANNA MONSEN
Set a school record with 30 digs against the talented No. 8 Texas offense ... Leads team with 4.55 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 146 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 ... Recorded 14 aces this season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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