Volleyball Announces 2006 Slate

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo announced the Sooners' 31-match schedule Monday afternoon. The 2006 slate features 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and 15 home matches at the Howard McCasland Field House.

The Sooners will kick off the season Aug. 25, hosting the two-day Sooner Legends Nike Invitational at the Howard McCasland Field House. OU will be hosting its first home tournament since 1999 and will square off against NCAA qualifiers Arkansas and North Carolina while Idaho rounds out the four-team field.

“We are excited about hosting our own tournament this year,” Restrepo said. “It is going to be a huge challenge for us right away because all three of our opponents are in the top of their conference every year and have NCAA Tournament experience. The tough competition will be a great test for our team and the tournament will be a great opportunity for our fans to come out and watch exciting volleyball.”

2006 Schedule | Printable Schedule

Following its home tourney, OU will hit the road for the InnTowner Invitational (Sept. 1-2), at the University of Wisconsin with matches against the Badgers, Oregon State and South Dakota State on the slate. The Badgers have advanced to the Elite Eight the past two consecutive seasons and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament the past 10 straight years.

OU will round out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a home contest against Oral Roberts on Sept. 6 followed by the Sooners' final tournament of the season. North Texas will host the Mean Green Classic Sept. 8-9 in Denton, Texas. The Sooners will match up against the Mean Green as well as Texas Southern and Sam Houston State in the four-team tournament.

Oklahoma opens the Big 12 season with a road trip to Texas A&M on Wednesday, Sept. 13. OU's Big 12 home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 16 against Nebraska, the 2005 runner-up in the national title match.

“As always, the Big 12 is going to have solid teams this year,” Restrepo said. “We must take it one match at a time and play our best night in and night out in this tough league. Our challenging non-conference schedule should help prepare us for the conference portion of our season.”

The challenging stretch continues as the Sooners host Texas in the annual Red River match up on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the Howard McCasland Field House.

For the third straight year, Restrepo has scheduled a non-conference meeting with Texas Christian University in the middle of the conference race. Restrepo filled the Sooners' conference bye with a home tilt against TCU on Oct. 31.

Senior Day for 2006 graduates Rachel Jackson, Anna Monsen, Joanna Schmitt, Eliane Santos and Laura Tomes is set for Tuesday, Nov. 21 against Iowa State.

Restrepo enters his third season as the head coach of the Sooners who return five starters and a libero in 2006.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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