Volleyball Opens Big 12 Play

Sept. 15, 2009

Oklahoma (7-2) at Kansas State (6-4)
Match 10	Wednesday, September 16, 2009 \| 7 p.m. CT
Location	Manhattan, Kan. \| Ahearn Field House
Tickets	$7 (adults) \| $4 (youth/senior citizens)
Internet	Live Stats \| KSU's Live Audio and Webcast (subscription based)
Game Info	2009 Media Guide \| Match Notes

SOONERS OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY AT KANSAS STATE
Oklahoma begins the 2009 Big 12 season on the road, taking on the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan. First serve from Ahearn Field House is set for 7 p.m. CT. The Sooners lead the all-time series with the Wildcats, 44-24-1 but have dropped two straight to KSU. Oklahoma's last series win came on Oct. 19, 2007 (3-1) in Norman. The Sooners are facing an unranked K-State squad for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006 (W, 3-0 in Norman).

OKLAHOMA LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING STREAK
While Big 12 season openers have not fared Oklahoma overall (4-9), the Sooners currently have a three match conference opener winning streak. The Sooners' last conference-opening loss came in 2005 to No. 25 Kansas State in Norman (0-3).

SO WE MEET AGAIN
Oklahoma and Kansas State meet in the conference opener for the second time since 1996. Kansas State has won both meetings (3-0 in Manhattan, Sept. 19, 2001 and 3-0 in Norman, Sept. 14, 2005).

SIDING ON THE RIGHT
Oklahoma produced a sideout percentage of 100 during the fifth set of Saturday's match against UT-Arlington. It marked the first time this season the Sooners accomplished the feat and the fifth time under head coach Santiago Restrepo.

FREUDENRICH: A ONE-WOMAN WRECKING CREW
Junior Sarah Freudenrich is causing havoc in most matches she has played in this season. Freudenrich is averaging 2.52 kills per set and hitting a team-best .361. In eight matches played this season, she has had 10 kills in four of those contests. Considering her offensive power is potent, what really makes her a valuable commodity is her blocking. She already has 37 blocks on the year, a 1.19 per set average. With four block solos and 33 block assists, Freudenrich is a responsible for 98.5 of the Sooners' 558.5 points so far this season.

EKWEREKWU HAS GRAND HOMECOMING
Junior Francie Ekwerekwu had a stellar performance at the UT-Arlington Invitational, earning Most Valuable Player honors. In her return to her hometown, Ekwerekwu led OU with 3.12 kills per set and a .327 hitting percentage. She also recorded nine blocks (1.12/set), including one block solo. Her three service aces and seven digs also contributed to OU winning the tournament with a 2-0 mark. Junior Bridget Laplante was also named to the all-tournament team.

HIGGINS GETS BACK IN HER GROOVE
Sophomore Caitlin Higgins had an excellent match against UT-Arlington. Higgins recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 kills and a career-high 23 digs.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Oklahoma has yet to play a match at home this season. The Sooners have played nine straight on the road. OU's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 19 against Missouri. The last time OU played a home opener that late was in 2003. The Sooners opened their home slate on Sept. 24 against Texas.

OFF TO A BETTER START THIS TIME AROUND
Compared to a year ago, Oklahoma is off to a much better start than the end of non-conference play in 2008. With a 7-2 record, the Sooners are ahead of their 4-4 mark last season. Oklahoma is also faring better in on both sides of the ball. The Sooners' attack percentage this year is .225 compared to .173 in 2008 and digs per set is 17.2 in 2009 compared to 15.2 a year ago.

FERNANDA OFF TO A GREAT START
Already this season, freshman María Fernanda has started every match at libero. She's getting the job done on the back row, averaging 4.25 digs per set. She set her season high against North Carolina with 23 defensive helpers. Fernanda has had 20 or more digs in four matches this season.

SOONERS OUT-HITTING OPPONENTS
Oklahoma fares quite well in out-hitting opponents. The Sooners have hit .225 as team in the first seven matches of the season. They have held opponents to a .127 clip.

OKLAHOMA AGAINST THE BIG 12
Oklahoma owns a winning series against four Big 12 opponents (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri) but has just an 83-177 mark in conference play.

DOUBLE VISION
Sophomore Brianne Barker and senior Bridget Laplante returned to form in non-conference play. Barker had three double-doubles in the first weekend, while Laplante had one. Barker followed up with two more double-doubles at the Best Western Shocker Classic and Laplante added one more to her tally. Barker got her sixth of the season against UT-Arlington. For good measure, sophomores Kylie Cowan and Caitlin Higgins each had their first double-doubles of the season in Wichita. Higgins added another against UTA.

SHOCKER CLASSIC ALL-TOURNEY
Freshman María Fernanda was named to the all-tournament for the Best Western Shocker Classic. It marks the second straight weekend the rookie was named among the best at an event. She was previously named to the all-tournament team at the Mizuno Invitational in Houston.

SOONERS TAKEN TO LIMIT
After breezing through the opening weekend with three three-set matches and one that went four, the Sooners played back-to-back five setters to open the Best Western Shocker Classic. OU dropped Grambling State in five before winning the first two against North Carolina and falling to the Tar Heels in five.

BOULAVSKY NETS CAREER HIGH
Sophomore Suzy Boulavsky netted a career-high 15 kills against Central Arkansas.

GETTING A LITTLE PLAYING TIME
Every Sooner on the 2009 roster has seen playing time this year.

TRIO NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Sophomore setter Brianne Barker was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 Mizuno Invitational hosted by Rice. Freshman LB María Fernanda was named to the team as was senior OH Bridget Laplante. Barker averaged 9.85 assists per set and 3.31 digs. Fernanda led OU with 4.23 digs per set and Laplante led the team in kills with 34.

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.

SOONERS TABBED SEVENTH
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 ESPNU
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.

PLEDGE FOR A CURE
Head coach Santiago Restrepo's youngest son, Javier, passed away in July at the age of four after a three-year battle with leukemia. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Sooner volleyball program will honor the life of little Javi. Fans have the chance to make a difference through monetary donations to the Jimmy Everest Center at The Children's Hospital at the OU Medical Center. For more information about the Pledge for a Cure event, including details of the Bob Stoops/Sherri Coale autograph session, visit the volleyball page at www.SoonerSports.com.