Sooners Sweep in Tourney Finale

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball team capped off action in the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational with a sweep of North Carolina (30-15, 30-19, 30-25) Saturday evening. The Sooners improved to 2-1 on the year after recording their second straight sweep of the day.

The Sooners dominated the match from start to finish, posting a team hitting percentage of .310 while holding the Tar Heels to an .027 clip. OU bested UNC in every statistical category, including 14 blocks to Carolina's three.

“This was definitely our best match of the tournament,” head coach Santiago Restrepo said. “We need every girl in the lineup to play well every match in order for us to be successful and that's exactly what happened tonight. I was very pleased with the girls that came off the bench tonight and gave us great minutes.”

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Seniors Rachel Jackson and Joanna Schmitt highlighted the win as both were named to the all-tournament team.

Jackson, OU's setter, was the leader of the offense over the weekend as she recorded 161 assists in three matches while setting a career-high of 66 assists in OU's opening match against Arkansas. Against UNC Jackson recorded a match-best 50 assists while also making herself a defensive presence with four block assists.

Schmitt has opened her senior season on fire as she posted a double-double in two of OU's three matches and recorded double-digit kills in every match. Schmitt highlighted the offense against the Tar Heels with her match-best 16 kills and also contributed 11 digs on the defensive end.

Fellow seniors Laura Tomes and Eliane Santos were equally impressive against UNC Saturday night . Santos, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, pounded 13 kills on a .462 clip while Tomes posted a match-best .611 hitting percentage while adding 12 kills.

The Sooner defense took control at the net as junior Anna Stadel led the way with six block assists and one block solo. Santos wasn't far behind as she set a career high with three block solos against UNC.

Libero Anna Monsen added another match of double-digit kills as she collected 15 for the Sooners while defensive specialist Hannah Sharp added nine to the Sooner defense.

The Sooners (2-1) finished in second place at the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational behind Arkansas, who went 3-0 on the weekend. North Carolina finished in third place with a 1-2 record while Idaho rounded out the four-team group with an 0-3 record.

Arkansas' Denitza Koleva took home MVP honors from the tournament. Joining Schmitt and Jackson on the all-tournament squad were Jessica Dorrell (Arkansas), Ashley Miller (Arkansas), Stacey Sode (Idaho) and Bekah Brinkley (North Carolina).

The Sooners return to action next Friday as they take on host school Wisconsin in the Inn Towner Invitational in Madison, Wis., at 7 p.m. OU will also face Oregon State (10 a.m.) and South Dakota State (5 p.m.) on Saturday during the tournament.

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