Restrepo, Seniors Win Big 12 Honors

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball team highlighted the list of Big 12 honors announced by the conference Monday afternoon as head coach Santiago Restrepo was voted the league's Coach of the Year while middle blocker Eliane Santos shared Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors and libero Anna Monsen also shared Co-Libero of the Year honors.

All five members of the senior class were honored by the Big 12 as Joanna Schmitt joined Santos on the All-Big 12 first team while middle blocker Laura Tomes and setter Rachel Jackson were named All-Big 12 honorable mention.

Nebraska and Oklahoma both posted a league-leading four All-Big 12 selections each as the Sooners had a player on the All-Big 12 first team for the first time since 1996. Additionally, OU added to its record-breaking season as it had four players named to an all-conference team for the first time in program history.

“I can not say enough about the class act that this group of seniors is,” Restrepo said. “They have provided so much leadership and hard work to our team and have been the foundation of what this program is about. I'm excited that they are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.”

The All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

In his third year at the helm of the OU program, Restrepo led the squad to its best Big 12 mark in school history (17-3) for a second-place finish while recording the best one-year turnaround in Big 12 history with 15 more conference victories than last season. The Sooners also posted their highest winning percentage (.839), after compiling a 26-5 overall record in 06. The Sooners, currently ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, earned a national ranking for the first time in 18 years while tying its highest-ranking ever last week and are making only their fourth trip in school history to the NCAA Championship.

“I would like to thank the head coaches of the Big 12 for this award because it totally leaves me speechless to be recognized by such an elite group of coaches,” Restrepo said. “I would also like to thank the administration, former players and support staff that have shown me how to be successful and have done so much for me. However, most of all this award should go to the players and assistant coaches because I have not scored one point in a match this season and it has been through their efforts that we have been able to be successful this year.”

Santos, who finished the Big 12 season as the leading solo block leader, posted 1.61 blocks per game, which ranked second on the blocking charts in Big 12 play. In all matches, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil senior middle blocker compiled 1.54 BPG. Santos shares the honor with Iowa State's Erin Boeve and Nebraska's Jordan Larson as they are the first three players in Big 12 history to share the Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Monsen become the first co-recipient of the Libero of the Year accolade as she shares the honor with Nebraska's Dani Busboom. The senior Wisconsin native tallied 4.82 digs per game (second) against conference opponents and 4.67 overall (third). She became only the second player in OU rally-scoring history to collect 1,000 digs in her career.

Highlighting the first team honorees for OU is senior Joanna Schmitt, who was one of only four outside hitters selected to the first team. Schmitt led the Sooners all season in kills per game and finished fourth in the conference among Big 12 players with 4.30 KPG in conference play only. The four-year starter is one of only four players in OU history and the first in rally-scoring history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.

Tomes was one of four middle blockers selected to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team as she finished fourth in the league in hitting percentage with a .363 clip. The Iowa native will finish her time at OU as the leader in career hitting percentage.

One of two setters named to the honorable mention squad, Jackson was one of the top setters in the conference this year and finished second in the league with 13.62 assists per game in conference only matches. In addition to setting single match records this season, the Arlington native will end her career as the rally-scoring leader in assists and third in career digs.

Oklahoma begins postseason play this Friday as the 13th overall seed in the NCAA Championship. The Sooners, participating in the tournament for the first since 1997, will face Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. this Friday in Fayetteville, Ark., in opening-round action.

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

Player of the Year: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
Newcomer of the Year: Rachel Holloway, Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Ashley Engle, Texas

Co-Defensive Players of the Year:
Erin Boeve, Iowa State
Jordan Larson, Nebraska
Eliane Santos, Oklahoma

Co-Liberos of the Year
Dani Busboom, Nebraska
Anna Monsen, Oklahoma

Coach of the Year: Santiago Restrepo, Oklahoma

ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
Ashley Nu'u Colorado
Erin Boeve, Iowa State
Jessica Vander Kooi, Missouri
Rachel Holloway, Nebraska
Jordan Larson, Nebraska
Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
Tracy Stalls, Nebraska
Eliane Santos, Oklahoma
Joanna Schmitt, Oklahoma
Ashley Engle, Texas
Destinee Hooker, Texas
Christi Hahn, Texas A&M

ALL-BIG 12 HONORABLE MENTION
Desiree Guillard-Young, Baylor
Amber Sutherland, Colorado
Lauren Schaefer, Colorado
Nicole Wilson, Missouri
Rachel Jackson, Oklahoma
Laura Tomes, Oklahoma
Michelle Moriarty, Texas

Please Note: A tie occurred in voting, so there are seven All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recipients.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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