Volleyball Opens 2009 Season

Aug. 27, 2009

Oklahoma (0-0) at Mizuno Invitational
Games 1-4	Friday, August 28 vs. Houston Baptist - 1 p.m. CT vs. Rice - 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday, August 29 vs. Nicholls State - 10 a.m. CT vs. Central Arkansas - 5 p.m. CT
Location	Autry Court/Tudor Field House
Internet	Live Stats \| Webcast (Rice match only/subscription based)
Game Info	2009 Media Guide \| Game Notes

NORMAN, Okla. – The 2009 University of Oklahoma volleyball season begins Friday with a pair of matches at the Mizuno Invitational presented by Rice University in Houston. The Sooners open play against Houston Baptist and Rice on Friday. OU closes out the tournament on Saturday against Nicholls State and Central Arkansas.

“We're obviously looking forward to playing in a highly-competitive tournament,” said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. “The team has been working extremely hard and is looking forward to playing against other teams. This weekend will be about us trying some different things. This tournament will give a good indication about how we're going to look later this year and who will step up.”

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
Rice finished third in Conference USA last season, posting a 23-8 record and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Houston Baptist went 24-7 in 2008 and was recently selected to finish second in the Big West in preseason coaches' voting.

Nicholls State lost just three letterwinners in 2008 and expects to improve on a 9-18 mark from a season ago. Central Arkansas is a preseason favorite to win the Southland Conference East Division title.

PLAYER TO WATCH - JUNIOR MB FRANCIE EKWEREKWU
Ekwerekwu enters her junior season looking to continue a successful sophomore campaign. The redshirt led the Sooners in kills in 2008 (2.66/s). She totaled 74 blocks last season, 14 of those solo blocks (0.81/s). Ekwerekwu's most recent career highlight was delivering the final kill to defeat Texas in Austin (2008). At middle blocker, Ekwerekwu is the most dominant and one of the most explosive players in the Sooner starting lineup. Her ability to play both ends provides OU with a different dimension of protection and attack to the offense.

ON THE WEB
Fans can follow all matcheson the web with live stats on SoonerSports.com.

2009 Oklahoma Roster | Head Coach Santiago Restrepo

NEXT WEEKEND
The Sooners travel to Wichita, Kan. next weekend to participate in the Best Western Shocker Classic at Wichita State. OU opens with Grambling State on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m. CT before facing North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. and host Wichita State later that day at 7:30 p.m.

WEBCAST SCHEDULE
Four games are scheduled to be streamed live on Oklahoma All-Access, SoonerSports.com's premium site. Those games are Oct. 7 vs. Iowa State, Oct. 28 vs. Colorado, Nov. 18 vs. Texas A&M and Nov. 25 against Texas. All games will have live stats available at SoonerSports.com.

SOONERS ON THE ROAD TO OPEN SEASON
Oklahoma has not opened its season on the road since 2005 when OU faced TCU in Fort Worth on Aug. 27. The Sooners have hosted home tournaments to open each season of the last three years.

BOULAVSKY SISTERS FINALLY MEET
The Sooners and Owls were scheduled to meet last season at the SFA Tournament in Nacogdoches, Texas, but due to Hurricane Ike the tournament was canceled. This season's meeting finally pins two sisters against each other - OU sophomore RS Suzy Boulavsky and older sister, Jessie, who plays OH for Rice.

BOULAVSKY, LAPLANTE, EDWARDS RETURN HOME
Sophomore RS Suzy Boulavsky and senior OH Bridget Laplante both hail from the Houston area. Boulavsky prepped at Clear Brook HS, while Tomball-native Laplante attended Klein Oak HS. Freshman DS Alex Edwards played high school volleyball at Taylor HS in Katy.

BEGINNING THE YEAR WITH FIRSTS
Rice is the only tournament opponent Oklahoma has previously met. The Sooners hold a slim 3-2 series lead against the Owls. It will be the first meeting between Oklahoma and Houston Baptist, Nicholls State and Central Arkansas.

THE SOONERS IN SEASON OPENERS
Oklahoma is 4-1 in season openers under head coach Santiago Restrepo. Since the Big 12's inception, OU is 7-6.

A TALE OF TWO SEASONS
When Oklahoma began the 2008 season, the Sooners returned just two starters. What a difference a year makes. To start the 2009 season, Oklahoma returns all six position starters. Of those six, one is a senior (OH Bridget Laplante). The team's only other senior is OH Jackie Fotu.

OU GETS NOD IN PRESEASON AVCA POLL
Oklahoma received five points and appeared on at least two ballots in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Coaches poll.

SOONERS TABBED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON VOTING
The OU women's volleyball team was selected to finish in seventh place, based on votes by the conference coaches. Voting coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

SOONERS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL BROADCAST
Oklahoma's home match against Nebraska on Sept. 30 has been selected for national broadcast by ESPNU. The match between the Sooners and Huskers tips at 6 p.m. CT at McCasland Fieldhouse.