Volleyball Set for UNT Tournament

NORMAN, Okla. - Looking to extend its three-match winning streak this weekend, the Oklahoma volleyball team (5-2) will head to Denton, Texas this weekend for the Mean Green Classic, hosted by the University of North Texas.

OU will open tourney action on Friday with a 10:30 a.m. match against Sam Houston (2-2) followed by a 7 p.m. meeting against the Mean Green (4-5). The Sooners will wrap up their final tournament of the regular season with an 11 a.m. contest against Texas Southern (0-4).

Match Notes | 2006 Schedule

SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON
The Bearkats enter Friday morning's match up with a 2-2 record after defeating Southern Miss in the finale of their own tournament this past weekend. One of Sam Houston's two losses came against North Texas, who it will play again over the weekend.

Defensively, the Bearkats are solid as they are collecting a tournament-best 22.4 digs per game while also averaging 2.0 blocks per game at the net. Headlining the defense is libero Melissa Sims, who is fourth in the nation with a 7.33 digs per game average. At the net the two middles, Lindsey Roebken and Katie Phillips, are averaging at one or more blocks a game each. Offensively, the Bearkats are led by Roebken (3.27 KPG; .244 Pct.) and outside hitter Rhae Walderman (3.14 KPG).

SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS
The host school, the North Texas Mean Green, own a 4-5 record and are coming off a recent five-game loss to TCU this past Tuesday. UNT's four wins came against Radford, Southern Miss, Sam Houston State and Texas State while its five losses came against No. 10 USC, Louisiana Tech, Wyoming and UTPA. However, the Mean Green enter with one of the nation's hottest players in libero Jessica Hulsebosch, who earned National Player of the Week honors this week for her defensive efforts.

This past weekend, Hulsebosch totaled 126 digs in three matches while collecting nine digs per game. Similar to the Bearkats, the Mean Green's biggest strength lies in its defense. Middle blocker Catherine Coffey leads UNT at the net with 0.94 blocks per game. On the offensive side, the Mean Green are averaging a tournament-low .166 hitting percentage, but have four players averaging two or more kills per game. Brittney Gregrory highlights the squad with a team-best 3.09 kill per game while Coffey and outside hitter Tara Hooser average 2.74 and 2.93 KPG, respectively. In the all-time series against UNT, the Sooners own a 16-8 advantage, including a 10-match win streak that was snapped by UNT in 2001, the last time both schools met.

SCOUTING TEXAS SOUTHERN
The Tigers will be aiming for their first win of the season as they own an 0-4 record after hosting the Texas Southern Invitational last weekend. Texas Southern, picked to finish fourth in the SWAC in 2006, is headlined by outside hitter Nicole Crane, who was named to the preseason All-SWAC second team. Crane has been the key's to the Tigers' offense as she is tallying 2.08 kills per game while hitting at a .270 clip.

Adding to the Tiger offense, who is averaging 10 kills a game on a .216 clip, are Emma Obi (2.0 KPG) and Candis Hamilton (1.85 KPG). Texas Southern has been strong defensively where it is averaging 2.39 blocks per game at the net behind Hamilton (0.77 BPG), Obi (0.73 BPG) and middle blocker Shannon Holland (0.67 BPG).

UP NEXT: BIG 12
With its non-conference schedule complete, the Sooners will begin Big 12 action next Wednesday, Sept. 13 as they travel to College Station, Texas to take on the Texas A&M Aggies at 7 p.m.

Oklahoma will return home on Saturday for a showdown against the No.1-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. inside the Howard McCasland Field House.

IN REWIND
OU extended its winning streak to three Wednesday evening as it recorded its fifth sweep of the year with a 3-0 victory over Oral Roberts inside the McCasland Field House. The Sooners avenged last season's five-game loss to the Golden Eagles. Senior outside hitter was the star of the match as she recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs. Additionally, OU tied a school record for a three-game match with 11 aces behind the play of Sarah Weiland, who recorded five for the Sooners.

SOONERS IN THE NCAA
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	16.70	11th
Hitting Percentage	.267	29th

NCAA Individual Rankings

Assists per game	Stat	Rank
Rachel Jackson	14.04	4th
Hitting Percentage
Laura Tomes	.466	8th
Eliane Santos	.388	26th

PLAYER TO WATCH: SARAH WEILAND
Last season's Big 12 leader in service aces has picked up right where she left off. Weiland, a transfer from Tulane, has been instrumental in OU's success from behind the line.

The junior outside hitter is averaging 0.59 aces per game which ranks fourth in the Big 12. Against Oral Roberts on Wednesday night, Weiland tallied five aces and led the Sooners to a team total of 11 against the Golden Eagles. OU's 11 aces tied a school record for a three-game match.

Weiland set a career high last season and a Big 12 record with nine aces in a four-game match against Loyola.

SANTOS AND SCHMITT NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
For the second straight weekend Oklahoma finished second in a tournament and had two Sooners selected to the all-tournament team. Seniors Joanna Schmitt and Eliane Santos highlighted the InnTowner Invitational as both received all-tournament honors this weekend.

Schmitt, a Wisconsin native, was outstanding over the weekend in front of her hometown crowd. The outside hitter picked up her second all-tournament honor this season as she averaged 4.89 KPG during tournament action. Against the Jackrabbits, Schmitt led the team with 14 kills on a .314 clip.

Santos was impressive in the third match as she recorded 12 kills on a .522 clip while junior Sarah Weiland also highlighted the offense with 11 kills on a .450 clip.

SCHMITT, JACKSON GRAB ALL-TOURNEY HONORS
Senior outside hitter Joanna Schmitt and senior setter Rachel Jackson highlighted the Sooner offense at the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational as each grabbed all-tournament honors for their efforts.

Schmitt recorded double-digit digs in every match and averaged 4.36 kills per game as she collected her fifth all-tournament selection of her career.

Jackson was exceptional in the opening weekend as she averaged 14.64 assists per game while also setting an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 66 assists against Arkansas. Earning the first all-tournament accolade of her career, Jackson led the Sooners to a .250 hitting percentage on the weekend.

SCHMITT SEEING DOUBLE
Outside hitter Joanna Schmitt has been the Sooners' go-to-girl during the Sooners' non-conference stretch. It is no surprise as the senior captain is leading the team with a 4.74 kill per game average and is averaging a double-double every two matches.

YEAR-TO-YEAR COMPARISON
Since head coach Santiago Restrepo's arrival in 2004, the Oklahoma volleyball team has improved every year in statistical categories. While only six matches into the 2006 season, the Sooners are following the same path, improving in kills per game, assists per game, aces per game and blocks per game.

Comparison 2005 2006

Kills per game	14.25	16.70
Assists per game	13.12	15.35
Aces per game	1.44	2.00
Blocks per game	2.88	2.76

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 66 assists against Arkansas in OU's opener, she is averaging 14.04 assists per game (4th in the country).

NEWCOMER DEBUT
Two Sooners, freshman Bridget Laplante and junior-transfer Mariana Blum made their Oklahoma volleyball debut in OU's opening weekend at the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational. Blum and Laplante are seeing consistent time in the Sooner lineup.

Below is a look at what each newcomer is averaging for the Sooners:

Mariana Blum
1.47 KPG; 1.07 DPG; 0.20 SAPG

Bridget Laplante
2.31 KPG; .280 Hitting Percentage; 2.38 DPG; 0.62 BPG

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 2.00 aces per game behind the play of Sarah Weiland and Hannah Sharp. Weiland, the Big 12 ace leader last season, leads the team with 0.59 aces per game while Sharp posts 0.39 SAPG.

SOONER HITTING PERCENTAGE
While only seven matches into the season, the Sooners have improved upon their hitting percentage. Last season, Oklahoma finished 10th in the Big 12 with a .180 clip. Currently the Sooners own a team hitting percentage of .267 and have three Sooners hitting over .300.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES

#1 JULIE CHESTER
Battled for a starting setter spot during the preseason ... Played in one game this season and has yet to record an assist.

#2 RACHEL JACKSON
Won starting setter job in a tough preseason battle with Julie Chester ... Averaging 14.04 assists per game (2nd in Big 12) ... Set an OU five-game rally-scoring record with 66 assists in season-opener against Arkansas.

#3 ANNA STADEL
A consistent three-year player for the Sooners ...Second on team in blocks with 1.00 per game.

#4 LAURA TOMES
Most improved player this season ... Currently ranked 2nd in the Big 12 with a .466 hitting percentage ... Set career high with 18 kills against Idaho in opening-season tournament.

#5 LACY BARNES
Saw two games of action in the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational where she recorded two digs ... Waiting her turn behind veteran defensive specialists Anna Monsen and Hannah Sharp.

#6 SARAH WEILAND
The top ace producer in the Big 12 in 2005 ... A consistent starter for the Sooners at outside hitter.

#8 JOANNA SCHMITT
Earned second all-tournament selection of the season after averaging 4.89 kills per game in front of hometown crowd in Wisconsin this past weekend ... Has twice as many attacks as any other Sooner.

#9 BRIDGET LAPLANTE
Made collegiate debut against Arkansas where she recorded seven kills on a .353 hitting percentage ... A consistent sub at outside hitter for the Sooners.

#10 ANNA MONSEN
Came on strong in final matches of 2005 season and has carried it over to 2006 ... Leads team with 4.70 digs per game.

#11 FRANCIE EKWEREKWU
Could possibly redshirt this season.

#12 ELIANE SANTOS
2006 Preseason All-Big 12 Selection ... One of OU's top go-to options on offense ... Picked up all-tournament honors at the InnTowner Invitational this past weekend.

#13 MARIANA BLUM
Two-time juco All-American at Hutchinson Community College ... Known for her tough jump serve.

#14 HANNAH SHARP
A defensive replacement sub that has played in every game this season ... Second on team with 0.39 aces per game.