Volleyball Hosts CU Saturday at 7PM

NORMAN, Okla. - Owning its best Big 12 mark ever, the No. 14 Oklahoma volleyball team will round out its regular season home schedule with two consecutive matches at the Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners will host the red hot Colorado Buffaloes (15-9, 11-6 Big 12), this Saturday at 7 p.m inside the Howard McCasland Field House.

Oklahoma will round out the home portion of the season next Tuesday when it hosts Iowa State at 7 p.m. on Senior Night. The Sooners will follow that with its final regular season match of the season, a road contest against Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Live Stats | Match Notes

PROMOTIONS
The first 250 fans through the door to Saturday night's match will receive a free team photo and an autograph session will follow the match.

TICKETS
Tickets still remain for the match against Colorado. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children. All OU students are admitted free with an OU ID.

LIVE STATS
As usual live stats of the entire match will be available for viewing at SoonerSports.com.

THE MATCH UP
Saturday night's match will be crucial for both teams' conference standing as Oklahoma owns a 14-3 conference mark and is tied with Texas for second in the league race. Colorado has crept up in the standings as it is currently tied for fourth with Iowa State as each team owns an 11-6 conference mark.

The Sooners are catching the Buffs on a hot streak as they are fresh off their upset of previously undefeated and No. 1 Nebraska last Saturday in Boulder. In addition, the squad is coming off plenty of rest as CU enjoyed its bye this past Wednesday. The Buffs are playing their best volleyball of the season right now and have won six of their last eight matches with their only losses during that streak coming to then top-25 teams in Texas and Missouri.

Oklahoma will be defending its eight-match home winning streak while it has also won six of its last eight matches with losses to No. 8 Texas in Austin and No. 1 Nebraska in Lincoln.

Big 12 Standings	Big 12 Record	Overall Record
Nebraska	16-1	24-1
Texas	15-3	20-5
OKLAHOMA	14-3	23-5
Iowa State	11-6	19-8
Colorado	11-6	15-9
Missouri	9-8	15-11
Baylor	6-11	18-12
Texas Tech	4-13	11-15
Texas A&M	4-14	11-15
Kansas	3-14	10-16
Kansas State	2-16	10-18

SCOUTING COLORADO
Statistically, the Buffs and Sooners are very similar in the offensive categories, but Oklahoma holds the largest advantage on defense, specifically blocking.

Setter Ashley Nu'u, the current AVCA National Player of the Week, is guiding the Colorado offense to a .225 hitting percentage (sixth in the Big 12) while Amber Sutherland has been impressive in Big 12 play where she is second in the conference with 4.50 kills per game. Sutherland is coming off a match-high 18 kill performance against the top-ranked Huskers and was impressive in the last meeting against the Sooners where she pounded 25 kills on a .321 hitting percentage.

On the defensive side, the Buffs are averaging 14.52 DPG in Big 12 action (10th in the conference) and 2.42 BPG in league action (ninth in the Big 12). Libero Kristen Karlik is leading the team with 4.11 digs per game while Lauren Schaefer is leading the squad with 0.86 blocks per game.

SERIES RECORDS
Colorado leads the all-time series between the schools, 33-11, including a 13-5 advantage when the match is held in Boulder, Colo. Oklahoma earned its first win over CU since 2004 earlier this season.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Sooners won the tough five-game battle (22-30, 30-18, 30-21, 23-30, 15-6) and beat the Buffs for the first time in Boulder since 1996. Senior Joanna Schmitt paced the Sooners with 19 kills and 14 digs.

UP NEXT: SENIOR NIGHT
Oklahoma will finish out its home schedule next Tuesday as it hosts Senior Night at 7 p.m. against Iowa State inside the McCasland Field House. It will mark the final home match for seniors Rachel Jackson, Anna Monsen, Eliane Santos, Joanna Schmitt and Laura Tomes. A brief ceremony honoring the seniors will take place after the match. The Sooners will round out their regular season next Saturday as they head to Waco, Texas to take on the Baylor Bears at 7 p.m.

MISSOURI IN REVIEW
Oklahoma led a valiant come back in game five against Missouri and overcame three MU match points in game five to beat the Tigers, 3-2 (30-25, 27-30, 32-30, 20-30, 19-17), in Columbia, Mo. The Sooners recorded the most wins in their Big 12 history with the win and added to their record-breaking night as setter Rachel Jackson set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 77 assists and Anna Monsen was huge defensively for Oklahoma as she set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with her 31 digs.

SOONERS CLOSING IN ON HIGHEST RANKING EVER
The Oklahoma volleyball squad continues to climb up the polls as it received a No. 14 ranking in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll released Nov. 13. 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. Oklahoma finished the 1988 season ranked No. 13, its highest ranking ever. 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.

BEST ONE YEAR TURNAROUND IN BIG 12 HISTORY
The Sooner volleyball program has undergone a complete turnaround from the 2005 season. OU finished the season with a 7-22 overall mark and 2-18 record in Big 12 play. However, the Sooners have done a complete reversal in 2006 and own a 23-5 record and 14-3 mark in the conference with three matches remaining. The Sooners own the best one-year turnaround in Big 12 history. Below is a look at the best one-year improvements in the conference:

School Years Improvement

OKLAHOMA	2005-2006	2-18 to 14-3*
Missouri	1999-2000	4-16 to 14-6
Iowa State	2004-2005	1-19 to 9-11
Baylor	1998-1999	7-13 to 12-8

*Sooners still have three conference matches remaining.

BEST BIG 12 MARK
The Sooners improved to 14-3 in the Big 12 Conference wit their victory over Missouri and now have the best Big 12 mark of any other OU team in the history of the conference.
The previous best record was the 13-7 Big 12 record produced by the 1997 squad. That season marked OU's last trip to the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Oklahoma owns a 23-5 overall record and has recorded the most overall wins since the 1988 squad that went 23-9. Prior to that, the 1985 team recorded a 27-13 final record.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RACHEL JACKSON
The senior setter has been an integral part of OU's turn-around season, offensively. Jackson is leading the offense to the conference's third-best hitting percentage. OU's team clip of .259 is a vast improvement from last year's final hitting percentage of .180.

Jackson is coming off a stellar performance against Missouri where she led the Sooners to a .257 hitting percentage and set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 77 assists in the Sooner victory.

The Arlington, Texas native currently ranks second in the Big 12 with 13.66 assists per game, which also ranks 10th in the country.

MONSEN NEARING 1,000
Senior libero Anna Monsen will look to become only the second player in OU rally-scoring history to reach 1,000 digs. Monsen only needs six more digs to reach the 1,000 plateau and will likely accomplish the feat against Colorado this Saturday.

SCHMITT MAKES HISTORY
Senior Joanna Schmitt was recognized after the Texas A&M match as she recently became a member of the 1,000 dig club. The outside hitter collected her 1,000th career dig against Texas and became the lone OU rally-scoring player to accomplish the feat. Schmitt now owns 1,107 career digs and 1,631 kills and is the only Sooner in rally-scoring history to own 1,000 digs and kills in her career. Additionally, the senior outside hitter is only the fourth player in the 32-year history of the program to accomplish the feat.

SOONERS COLLECT 20-WIN SEASON
Oklahoma collected its 20th win of the season against TCU on Oct. 31. It marked the first 20-win season for OU since 1997 when the Sooners finished with a 20-13 overall record. In the 32-year history of the program the Sooners have now had 12 20-win seasons.

SOLO LEADER
Middle blocker Eliane Santos has been a force at the net in her two-year career with the Sooners. Santos leads all Big 12 players with 35 solo blocks and ranks third in Big 12 play with 1.50 blocks per game. The senior is also the OU rally-scoring record holder with 54 career solo blocks in her two-year stint with the Sooners.

PAIR NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Senior setter Rachel Jackson and junior defensive specialist Hannah Sharp were named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District VI teams as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Jackson represented Oklahoma on the second team while Sharp was named to the third team. Oklahoma had more honorees than any other Big 12 school in District VI. Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech each had one representative on the teams.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Through 28 matches last season Oklahoma owned a 7-21 overall mark and a 2-17 record in Big 12 play. In 2006, the Sooners have already surpassed last year's win total in conference and overall. A comparison of the stats below shows what a difference a year makes.

Through 28 Matches 2005 2006

Kills per game	14.25	16.27
Assists per game	13.12	15.06
Digs per game	12.33	15.38
Blocks per game	2.88	3.10

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

Sept. 13 - OU 3, Texas A&M 0
* OU snaps a 27-year losing streak to Texas A&M and earns its first-ever win in College Station in the Big 12 opener.

Sept. 27 - OU 3, #8 Texas 2
* 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.

Sept. 30 - OU 3, Colorado 2
* Oklahoma beats Colorado for the first time in Boulder since Oct. 13, 1988.

Oct. 2 - OU Ranked No. 25
* OU cracks the top-25 polls on Oct. 2 for the first time since 1988.

Oct. 11 - OU 3, Texas Tech 2
* With a come-from-behind 3-2 win, OU beat Texas Tech in Lubbock for the first time since Oct. 18, 1997.

Oct. 14 - OU 3, Kansas State 2
* OU snaps a 14-match losing streak to Kansas State with a 3-2 win over the Wildcats in Manhattan.

Oct. 18 - OU 3, #12 Missouri 0
* A 12-match losing streak to Missouri is snapped with an upset of the then-No. 12 Tigers.

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 4.26 kills per game average (fifth in the Big 12) and has recorded 16 double-doubles already this season.

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 16 of its 23 victories 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 ... Lone start of the season against Texas Southern where she recorded 39 assists ... Saw a few minutes against Texas Tech as she added two assists.

#2 RACHEL JACKSON
Second in the conference with 13.66 assists per game ... Set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with her 77 assists against Missouri earlier this week .... 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 ... A big spark plug in game two against Texas Tech where she recorded two kills and four blocks.

#4 LAURA TOMES
Moved from right side to middle blocker this season ... Her .377 clip ranks second among all Big 12 players ... Most consistent hitter for the Sooners this season ... Added seven blocks in OU's victory over Missouri.

#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 ... Subs in periodically to serve.

#6 SARAH WEILAND
Has come on strong in the second half of Big 12 play where she is hitting at a .367 clip and averaging 2.67 KPG and 0.77 BPG ... Only Sooner to start every match this season.

#8 JOANNA SCHMITT
Leads team with 16 double-doubles on the season ... Leads team with 4.26 kills per game ... Only OU rally-scoring player with over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs ... Tallied double-digit kills in 26 of OU's 28 matches this season.

#9 BRIDGET LAPLANTE
The freshman is a huge contribution to this year's lineup ... Pounded double-digit kills in 13 of last 16 matches.

#10 ANNA MONSEN
Second in the league with 4.80 digs in Big 12 play ... Set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 31 digs against Missouri ... Nees six more digs to break career 1,000 dig mark ... Only needs 92 more digs to tie the Big 12 season record.

#11 FRANCIE EKWEREKWU
Red shirting this season.

#12 ELIANE SANTOS
Named Co-Big 12 Player of the Week for Oct. 30... OU's leading force at the net with 1.50 BPG ... Recorded five or more blocks in six of last seven matches.

#13 MARIANA BLUM
Mainly subs in for serving purposes ... Saw lots of playing time against TCU where she collected a season-high nine digs.

#14 HANNAH SHARP
A defensive replacement sub that has played in every game this season ... Averaging 2.01 digs per game.