Volleyball Announces '09 Schedule

May 20, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and head volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo announced the Sooners' 2009 schedule Wednesday afternoon. A total of 10 home games at Howard McCasland Field House are featured.

The Sooners begin 2009 on the road, taking part in the Mizuno Invitational at Rice University. OU faces Houston Baptist, the host Owls, Nicholls State and Central Arkansas in the two day event.

“We will get a very good test in our opening weekend at Rice,” said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. “Rice was one of the top teams in the country at the end of last season. We played them in the spring and they got the best of us. They're very good at home, so it will be a good challenge for us.

The next weekend, OU travels to Wichita, Kan. to compete against the host Shockers and North Carolina.

“Wichita State is also a very good program,” Restrepo added. “We have had some tough battles against them in years past. We split with them this spring. Our two teams are very similar in that we both produce a lot of rallies.”

The Sooners close out non-conference play with a tournament at UT Arlington. While there, OU also takes on Arkansas-Little Rock.

2009 Oklahoma Volleyball Schedule

Oklahoma opens Big 12 play on the road at Kansas State on Sept. 16 before hosting its home opener on Sept. 19 against Missouri. The Sooners travel to Kansas (Sept. 23) and Colorado (Sept. 26) before hosting Colorado to close out the month on Sept. 30.

The Sooners open October at home against Texas Tech (Oct. 3) and Iowa State (Oct. 7) before traveling to Austin for the first half of the Red River matchup with Texas (Oct.10). After welcoming Baylor to McCasland Fieldhouse on Oct. 17, OU travels to Texas A&M (Oct. 21) and Nebraska (Oct. 24). Oklahoma wraps up the month with Colorado (Oct. 28) and Kansas State (Oct. 31) at home.

OU opens November at Baylor (Nov. 4), then hosts Kansas (Nov. 7) before traveling to Missouri (Nov. 11) and Texas Tech (Nov. 14). The Sooners close out the 2009 home slate with Texas A&M (Nov. 18) and Texas (Nov. 15). The regular season finale is set for Nov. 28 at Iowa State.

“The Big 12 is obviously a very tough conference,” Restrepo said. “Every single match is tough. We have two new coaches at Texas Tech and Colorado. Those are going to be tough teams to beat, as will the rest. This is a highly competitive league.”

The Sooners finished 12-16 (8-12 Big 12) last season and return all six offensive starters and 10 total letterwinners. Among those returning including 2008 All-Big 12 Freshman team members Brianne Barker and Caitlin Higgins. OU welcomes three newcomers to this year's team.

Players Mentioned

Brianne Barker

Caitlin Higgins

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics