Volleyball Travels to Boulder

NORMAN, Okla. - After recording its biggest win in Big 12 history, a 3-2 upset of No. 8 Texas, the OU volleyball team (11-3, 3-1 Big 12) now travels to Colorado (8-4, 4-1 Big 12) for a match against the Buffaloes this Saturday at 8 p.m. (CST) in Boulder, Colo.

THE MATCH UP
Oklahoma and Colorado enter Saturday's contest as two of the hottest teams in the Big 12 as both schools own a two-match win streak and currently sit in the top third of the Big 12 standings. Additionally, of the combined seven losses between both schools, six of them have come against top-10 teams. Each school also has one victory against a ranked opponent this season as Colorado handed No. 17 Missouri a 3-2 loss while the Sooners are fresh off their five-game upset of No. 8 Texas Wednesday night.

Live Stats | Match Notes | 2006 Schedule

SCOUTING COLORADO
Heading into Saturday night's action, the Buffs own an 8-4 mark with a 4-1 record in Big 12 play. Colorado has been unscathed at home with a perfect 7-0 record at the Coors Event Center, including an upset of then-No. 17 Missouri. All four of CU's losses came against top-10 teams, including No. 10 UCLA, No. 7 Hawai'i; No. 5 Florida and No. 5 Texas.

The Buffs had the tough task of replacing two-time All-America right side hitter Allie Griffin, but CU hasn't struggled as its offense remains in the top half of the Big 12 in every offensive category. The Buffs have been even tougher in Big 12 play where they are averaging a conference-best .272 clip.

The success of the offense is largely due to outside hitter Amber Sutherland's offensive leadership as the junior is leading the squad with 4.20 kills per game (sixth in Big 12) while fellow outside hitter Mallori Gibson is balancing the offense with her 3.35 kills per game.

Preseason All-Big 12 selection, setter Ashley Nu'u is leading the strong offense as she is averaging 11.95 assists per game for the Buffs, including a 12.16 average in Big 12 matches only.

Defensively, Colorado is averaging 12.95 digs per game (last in Big 12) and is putting away 2.10 blocks per game (10th in Big 12. Middle blocker Lara Bossow is leading the Buffs at the net with 0.74 blocks per game while Sutherland (0.62 BPG), Nu'u (0.56 BPG) and Alex Buth (0.56 BPG) are also contributing at the net.

In the back row, Colorado State transfer Kristen Karlik is guiding the CU defense with 3.88 digs per game.

SERIES RECORDS
Colorado leads the all-time series between the schools, 33-10, including a 17-3 advantage when the match is held in Boulder, Colo. The Sooners will be searching for their first win in Boulder since Oct. 13, 1988. OU's last victory against the Buffs was a 3-2 win in Norman on Oct. 16, 2004.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET
In its two meetings against CU last season, the Buffs came out victorious both times. OU took CU to five games in the meeting in Norman, but the Buffs swept the Sooners in Boulder in the two squads final meeting of the season against each other last year. In last year's match in Boulder, libero Anna Monsen had a breakout match against the Buffs where she collected 14 digs and earned a starting role for the rest of the season. However, only one Sooner could record double digit kills (Sarah Weiland) on offense and OU couldn't stop Allie Griffin, who pounded a match-high 19 kills, but has since graduated.

UP NEXT: BAYLOR
After its trip to Boulder, the Sooners will return home for a two-match home stand next week. Oklahoma will welcome Baylor on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. inside the Howard McCasland Field House. The following Saturday (Oct. 7) the Sooners will host the Kansas Jayhawks at 7 p.m.

PLAYER TO WATCH: BRIDGET LAPLANTE
The rookie outside hitter has been exceptional since the start of Big 12 play. Laplante was the key player in OU's upset of No. 8 Texas as she tallied the first double-double of her career with 20 kills and 12 digs.

Defensively, Laplante was stellar as she added seven blocks against the tall Texas team in addition to her digs.

In Big 12 play, Laplante is averaging 3.00 kills per game for the Sooners while also tallying 2.60 digs per game.

SOONERS UPSET NO. 8 TEXAS IN SCHOOL'S FIRST-EVER WIN
It took 31 years, but Oklahoma beat border rival Texas, who was ranked No. 8 at the time, for the first time in school history Wednesday night. The Longhorns had previously held a 28-0 advantage in the series until Oklahoma used a five-game win (30-28, 30-21, 31-33, 26-30, 15-13) Wednesday night to beat the Horns and earn its first win over a ranked team since 1998. In the five-game match in Norman, Oklahoma set eight different OU rally-scoring records while four different Sooners recorded double-doubles.

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.

PERFECT IN BIG 12 ROAD MATCHES
So far the Sooners are a perfect 2-0 on the road in Big 12 conference matches after sweeping (30-21, 31-29, 32-30) Iowa State last Saturday night in Ames. Oklahoma's other road opponent was Texas A&M, whom the Sooners also swept. Ironically, both Texas A&M and Iowa State were both receiving votes in the top-25 poll the week that OU handed them 3-0 losses. Colorado has received votes in the last two AVCA top-25 polls.

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.

NCAA Team Rankings

Category	Stat	Rank
Kills per game	16.54	15th
Hitting Percentage	.268	22nd

NCAA Individual Rankings

Assists per game	Stat	Rank
Rachel Jackson	13.62	7th
Hitting Percentage
Laura Tomes	.455	9th

BEST START IN BIG 12 HISTORY
In just his third year at the helm of the OU volleyball program, head coach Santiago Restrepo has the Sooners off to their best Big 12 start in history with their 3-1 mark. OU has never started 3-1 in Big 12 play. The last time OU did as well at the start of conference play was in 1995 when OU posted a 3-1 start at the beginning of Big Eight play in 1995.

FIRST GAME = VICTORY
It has been crucial for OU to jump out on top of its opponent this season as it has won every match this season after clinching the first game. In the Sooners' three lone losses this season, they were unsuccessful in the first frame.

SWEEP SUCCESS
OU has been dominant in all of its wins this season as it has swept in 10 of its 11 victories this season. Ironically, OU has only played more than three games twice this year. OU suffered a five-game loss to Arkansas in its opening match of the season and won a tough five-game battle against No. 8 Texas this past Wednesday.

OU ENDS 27-YEAR LOSING STREAK
Beating Texas A&M for the first time since 1979, the OU volleyball team opened the Big 12 season in dramatic fashion with a sweep (30-28, 30-26, 30-28) of the Aggies in front of 2,588 rowdy fans in College Station, Texas.

WITH THE TAMU WIN:
* The Sooners picked up their first ever win in College   Station.
* It marked the first time under coach Restrepo that OU   won its opening Big 12 match.
* Oklahoma collected an opening Big 12 road win for   the first time in the history of the conference.
* Set a school mark with most consecutive sweeps in   school history.

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 80 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 14 matches, last season Oklahoma owned a 4-10 overall mark and an 0-6 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 14 Matches 2005 2006

Kills per game	14.02	16.48
Assists per game	12.92	15.04
Digs per game	11.85	14.93
Blocks per game	2.48	2.99

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 .444 clip in addition to a 3.37 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 ninth in the nation with her hitting percentage.

JACKSON LEADING THE OFFENSE
It was a preseason battle for the starting job, but senior setter Rachel Jackson claimed the position and has been extremely consistent leading the Sooner offense ever since. In addition to setting an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 73 assists against No. 8 Texas, she is averaging 13.74 assists per game (7th in the country).

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 4.51 kill per game average and has recorded six double-doubles already this season.

SERVING ACES
Head coach Santiago Restrepo wanted his team to work hard in the offseason on serving. It has paid off as the Sooners are averaging 1.70 aces per game behind the play of Sarah Weiland, Rachel Jackson Laura Tomes and Hannah Sharp. Weiland, the Big 12 ace leader last season, owns 0.31 aces per game as does Jackson while Tomes adds 0.29 SAPG and Sharp is recording 0.28 SAPG.

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 .260, second in the Big 12, and have four Sooners hitting over .300.

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.

ANOTHER TOUGH SCHEDULE
A constant year in and year out in Big 12 play, the Oklahoma volleyball squad has put together another tough schedule for the 2006 season. The slate includes 10 teams that advanced to the 2005 NCAA Tournament and five teams currently in the CSTV/AVCA Coaches Poll, including two in the top 10. Below is a look at the teams OU have faced or will face over the course of the season. The ranking marks the school's current top-25 ranking.
#1 Nebraska (twice)
#8 Texas (twice)
#14 Wisconsin
#19 Missouri (twice)

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
Won starting setter job in a tough preseason battle with Julie Chester ... Averaging 13.74 assists per game (7th in the nation) ... Set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 73 assists in OU's win over No. 8 Texas.

#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 one game of Big 12 action so far.

#4 LAURA TOMES
Most improved player this season ... Her .444 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
The top ace producer in the Big 12 in 2005 ... Leading Sooners with 0.31 aces per game this season ... Outside hitter is only Sooner to start every match this season ... An offensive threat averaging 1.96 KPG on a .216 clip.

#8 JOANNA SCHMITT
Senior captain has started off year strong ... Leads team with 4.51 kills per game ... Has almost twice as many attacks as any other Sooner.

#9 BRIDGET LAPLANTE
Made the difference in OU's victory over No. 8 Texas with her first career double-double (20 kills, 12 digs) ... The freshman was a key starter against Texas A&M as she pounded five kills in game one of the sweep ... Entered the starting lineup seven matches ago.

#10 ANNA MONSEN
Set a school record with 30 digs against the talented No. 8 Texas offense ... Leads team with 4.77 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 1.55 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 13 aces this season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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