Volleyball Opens 2008 Season Friday

Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational
Date	Friday-Saturday, Aug. 29-30
Location	Norman, Okla. \| Howard McCasland Field House (2,000)
Tickets	Free admission to all games
Internet	Live Webcast on Oklahoma All-Access \| Live Stats
Promotions	Friday: 250 OU Volleyball Schedule Rally Towels Saturday: 500 OU Volleyball Schedule Magnets
Game Info	Game Notes (PDF)

NORMAN, Okla. - The 2008 University of Oklahoma volleyball season begins Friday morning as the Sooners host the Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational at McCasland Field House. Action begins with OU taking on Michigan State at 10 a.m.

Admission is free to all tournament games. Live stats will be available for all tournament games on SoonerSports.com. The first 250 fans in attendance Friday receive a rally towel, while the first 500 fans Saturday get a schedule magnet.

Tenth-ranked Cal Poly and Wichita State highlight the morning session's second game at noon, while the Spartans and Mustangs open the evening session at 6 p.m. In the nightcap, the Sooners face the Shockers at 8 p.m. Saturday's first game begins with Wichita State and Michigan State at 11 a.m. Oklahoma and Cal Poly close out the tournament with a 1 p.m. contest prior to the start of the 6 p.m. OU-UTC football game.

The Sooners begin the 2008 season receiving votes in the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 poll. The Sooners earned 15 points in the poll. The team was selected to finish in a tie for eighth place in preseason Big 12 poll, based on votes by the conference coaches.

Redshirt sophomore Francie Ekwerekwu was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team. Ekwerekwu earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors a season ago. One of only two players to see action in every game last year, she tallied 312 kills on the season.

Michigan State enters the tournament after a 2007 Sweet 16 appearance. Currently receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll, the Spartans return seven players from a year ago. Leading the way for MSU will be junior middle blocker Vanessa King and sophomore outside hitter Jenilee Rathje.

Wichita State also begins the season receiving votes in the preseason AVCA poll. The Shockers were selected to win the Missouri Valley Conference in preseason voting. WSU returns 11 letterwinners and four starters from a team that won their third MVC title in four years with a 17-1 mark.

Cal Poly is the two-time defending Big West champions. They return two AVCA All-America honorees and four all-conference selections. In addition, Cal Poly returns five starters from last season's regional semifinal team.

Following this weekend, OU returns to action at the Trojan Invitational, Sept. 4-6 in Los Angeles, Calif. The Sooners will face fourth-ranked Southern California, San Diego and Hofstra during the three-day event at the Galen Center.

Players Mentioned

Francie Ekwerekwu

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics