OU Ends Regular Season in Ames

Nov. 23, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The 21st-ranked Oklahoma volleyball team will close out the regular season this Saturday in Ames, Iowa as the Sooners will take on the Iowa State Cyclones at 6:30 p.m. Oklahoma enters the match with a 21-8 mark and 13-6 overall record after sweeping Missouri Wednesday night in its home finale. The Cyclones are coming off a heart-breaking loss to No. 3 Texas as ISU fell in five games to the Horns on Wednesday night. ISU owns a 16-13 overall mark and a 10-9 mark in the league.

LIVE STATS Live stats of Saturday night's match will be available on Iowa State's web site, www.cyclones.com.

THE MATCH UP
Saturday's regular season finale will be a crucial match for both teams as the Cyclones will be trying to improve their resume with the NCAA Tournament selection set for Sunday night. ISU currently sits in fifth in the conference and played the Sooners in a close five-game match in Norman earlier this season as the Sooners earned the five-game win. Meanwhile, the Sooners are aiming for a third-place finish in the conference after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason by the league's coaches. Oklahoma is battling Kansas State for the third-place finish in the Big 12 standings. The Sooners beat the No. 12 Wildcats twice this season, but KSU owns a 14-6 record in the Big 12 and will play No. 3 Texas on Saturday night as well. The Sooners need a win against Iowa State and a Kansas State loss to finish in third in the Big 12 standings.

SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The Cyclones remain one of the top defensive squads in the Big 12 as they lead the conference in digs with 17.97 per game in Big 12 action while they are also second in the conference in blocks with 3.16 blocks per game. The Sooners are very familiar with Iowa State's defense as the Cyclones registered 101 digs and 13 blocks against Oklahoma in OU's 3-2 victory over the Cyclones earlier this season in Norman. The Oklahoma offense will face the top blocker in the Big 12 on Saturday night as Erin Boeve is tallying a Big 12-best 1.62 blocks per game in conference action. Iowa State's offense has also been solid as it is fourth in the league in kills with 15.97 kills per game. Boeve is also ISU's offensive leader with 3.60 kills per game in Big 12 action. Boeve was exceptional against the Sooners earlier this year with 25 kills and 11 total blocks (seven block assists, four solo).

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Sooners hosted Iowa State earlier this season in Norman and went to five-games with the Cyclones. Oklahoma recovered from a 1-0 deficit to beat the Cyclones, 3-2 (19-30, 30-24, 29-31, 30-26, 15-12). Oklahoma even trailed 12-10 in the final game but recorded five straight points to clinch the match and the game. The Cyclone defense recorded 15 blocks and 101 digs, but Sarah Weiland led the OU offense to victory with 19 kills while middle blockers Francie Ekwerekwu and Anna Stadel added 15 and 12, respectively.

SERIES RECORDS
Oklahoma leads the series between the two squads, 38-21. Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, Oklahoma leads the Cyclones 16-6. Oklahoma has won the last three straight against the Cyclones while Iowa State won two straight in 2005.

SOONERS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Oklahoma owns a 3-5 record against ranked opponents with two five-game road wins over then-No. 25 Texas A&M and No. 16 Kansas State and another defeat over No. 14 Kansas State in Norman. OU dropped a non-conference match to No. 18 San Diego and was swept by No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Nebraska (in Lincoln), No. 6 Texas (in Norman) and No. 3 Texas (in Austin).

OU SWEEPS MISSOURI IN NORMAN
Oklahoma closed out its home regular season against Missouri last Wednesday in strong fashion. The Sooners avenged an earlier season loss against the Tigers with a 3-0 win (30-25, 30-26, 30-25) in Norman. Redshirt freshman Francie Ekwerekwu stole the show on senior night as she tallied 16 kills on a .552 hitting percentage while also leading the defense with five block assists. The OU defense was also solid with 74 digs and nine team blocks. Anna Stadel and Sarah Weiland were also solid on offense with 10 kills each.

ON PACE WITH 2006
The 2006 squad, which was picked to finish 10th in the conference race, recorded the best record in school history (28-6) and finished second in the Big 12 standings. Now, the 2007 squad is having a similar season to last year's record-breaking season. The Sooners, who were picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 preseason poll this year, are currently 21-8 overall while the 2006 squad was 23-6 after 289 matches. In addition, Oklahoma is the surprise of the Big 12 for the second straight year as it is currently in a race for third in the Big 12 standings.

UP NEXT
The Sooners will be aiming for their second straight and fifth trip in history to the NCAA Tournament when the 64-team field is announced Sunday night at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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