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sports_w-volley_archive_2010_blog
May 20, 2013 | Volleyball
2010-11 Blog Archive
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Sooners in China | June 13, 2011 |
University of Oklahoma head coach Santiago Restrepo, senior setter Brianne Barker and sophomore middle blocker Sallie McLaurin are currently in China partcipating in the BIP/USA to China, Challenge Invitational. BIP has put together two teams of top level collegiate players in conjunction with USA Volleyball. Prior to leaving, the teams trainedn at the Anaheim Sports Center (ASC) in Anaheim, Calif. on June 7-8 before flying to Beijing on June 9 for a 10-night tour of China. For more information on the event, visit the BIP website.
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Barker Named to All-Tournament Team | June 6, 2011 |
University of Oklahoma senior setter Brianne Barker was named to the USA Volleyball Open National Championships all-tournament team last week after helping the United States A2 blue team win a national title in Dallas.
Barker, an 2010 All-American, scored six points, including three aces and a kill, in the 26-24 title-clinching game against the A2 red team.
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Sooners Close Out Spring Schedule | April 20, 2011 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team concludes its spring practice season Saturday with two matches against Wichita State. The Sooners and Shockers play a best-of-three-series at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Houston Huffman Center on the OU campus. Spectators are asked to enter at the southeast corner of the facility.
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Volleyball Ranked in Final AVCA Poll | Dec. 21, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team ended the 2010 campaign ranked 21st in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll of the season. The Sooners are ranked for the first time since Nov. 26, 2007. OU advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship, falling to eventual national champion Penn State in straight sets.
Oklahoma was one of five Big 12 schools ranked in the final poll - No. 4 Texas, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 22 Missouri and No. 25 Iowa State. In addition to the conference schools, OU faced No. 1 Penn State (loss), No. 20 Tulsa (won) and No. 24 Tennessee (loss) during the year.
The Sooners went 23-11 on the year and finished third in the Big 12 with a 13-7 mark. Junior setter Brianne Barker earned third team All-America honors from the AVCA and was named to the All-Central Region first team. Junior right side Suzy Boulavsky earned honorable mention All-Region honors.
Barker and Boulavsky earned first team All-Big 12 honors and freshman Sallie McLaurin was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and to the All-Big 12 freshman team.
Oklahoma graduates two seniors from the 2010 squad - Sarah Freudenrich and Chrissy Disarro. The Sooners are expected to return five starters in addition to libero Maria Fernanda.
Click here for the full 2010 season review, including notes, player bios, box scores and press clippings.
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Barker Named to All-Tournament Team | Dec. 13, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma junior setter Brianne Barker was named to the University Park, Pa. Regional All-Tournament team following her performance in Friday evening's match against No. 8 Penn State. Joining Barker on the team were Missouri's Paola Ampudia, Duke's Sophia Dunworth and Kellie Catanach, Penn State's Arielle Wilson and Kristin Carpenter. Blair Brown was the most outstanding player.
The Sooners fell in straight sets to the three-time defending national champions (-23, -23, -15). Barker had her 19th double-double of the year with 31 assists and 10 digs. She commanded the offense to a .217 hitting percentage as a team, the best hitting percentage by an opponent at Recreation Hall this season. Michigan previously hit .216 against the Nittany Lions on Oct. 2.
Oklahoma advanced to its third Sweet 16 in program history. OU is 8-7 all-time in the NCAA Championship and 5-4 under head coach Santiago Restrepo. Against non-conference opponents this year, Oklahoma went 10-4 with three of the losses to ranked teams in Tennessee (17), Florida State and Penn State (8).
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Sooners Meet Media in State College | Dec. 9, 2010 |
Oklahoma volleyball head coach Santiago Restrepo and juniors Brianne Barker and Suzy Boulavsky took part in a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 9 on Penn State University's campus. The Sooners spoke to members of the media about their upcoming match in the NCAA Tournament.
At 6 p.m. CT on Friday, the Sooners (23-10) will make their third appearance in the Sweet 16 and first since 2006 against host and No. 4 seed Penn State. The Nittany Lions (28-5) are the three-time defending national champion and have won an NCAA-record 92 straight home matches.
Follow all the action from State College, Pa., here on Click here to read the entire transcript.
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Barker Named First Team All-Region | Dec. 7, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma junior setter Brianne Barker has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Central Region first team, the organization announced today. The honor is the third first team honor for a Sooner under head coach Santiago Restrepo and Barker is the 13th Oklahoma player to be recognized on an all-region team. Junior right side hitter Suzy Boulavsky earned honorable mention honors for a second straight season.
"We're excited for Brianne and Suzy to earn this honor," said Restrepo. "They've both done a great job as has our team. We continue to have great success in our program because these two young ladies challenge their teammates to be better."
Barker leads the team with 10.39 assists per set and has paced the Sooner offense to a .231 hitting percentage this season. Barker also contributes 2.66 digs per set and has 52 total blocks on the year. Boulavsky leads the team with 3.46 kills per set. She has a .275 hitting percentage and has 72 total blocks on the year.
The Sooners face No. 4 national Penn State Friday at 6 p.m. CT in the regional semifinal in University Park, Pa. The winner advances to the Elite 8.
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Sooners to Face Nittany Lions | Dec. 5, 2010 |
Oklahoma meets three-time defending national champion and No. 4 national seed Penn State (28-5) Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT at Recreation Hall in University Park, Pa. It marks OU's third trip to the Sweet 16 and second under head coach Santiago Restrepo. It is the first series meeting between the two schools.
All session tickets for the University Park Regional are also on sale now. They must also be purchased in advance at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office or by calling (814) 865-5555. All session tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for youth and students with a valid college or university ID and $8 for groups of 20 or more.
Single session tickets for the University Park Regional will only be available at Rec Hall on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10-11, and are $10 for adults, $7 for youth and students and $5 for groups.
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Boulavsky Earns Academic Honor | Nov. 30, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma right side hitter Suzy Boulavsky (Houston, Texas) has been recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America as a member of the organization's ESPN Academic All-America third team.
Boulavsky boasts a 3.95 grade point average in journalism and was one of four underclassmen named to the third team. She was previously named to the ESPN Academic All-District first team and earned Academic All-Big 12 first team honors this season.
Boulavsky led the Sooners with a 3.55 kills per set average this season and was named to the All-Big 12 first team. She hit .282 from the right side and had a team-best 454.5 points on the year. Barker averaged 10.36 assists per set and 2.65 digs. Barker paced the OU offense to a .226 hitting percentage on the year and 13.53 kills per set, both ranking in the top five in the conference.
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Time Change for Saturday | Nov. 22, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma officials have announced a time change for the Nov. 27 volleyball match between Oklahoma and Kansas. The match will now begin at 3 p.m. CT at McCasland Field House. Tickets remain and are available for purchase at the Field House ticket office one hour prior to the start of the event or online.
The Sooners honor the 2010 senior class following the match and will have autographs with the team following the senior day celebration.
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Seven Named Academic All-Big 12 | Nov. 16, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team placed a league-best seven student-athletes on the 2010 Academic All-Big 12 team the league office announced today. All seven Sooners earned first team honors. Junior Suzy Boulavsky and senior Francie Ekwerekwu were two of three members with a perfect 4.00 grade point average.
"It's a testament to how hard our student-athletes work," said Oklahoma Head Coach Santiago Restrepo. "They work hard on the court to make this program successful, and they're getting it done in the classroom, as well. School is our top priority, and it's exciting to see them recognized for that. We're very proud of them."
Boulavsky, a junior majoring in journalism, was recently named to the ESPN College Sports Information Director of America Academic All-District first team. Ekwerekwu, a senior, recently graduated with her bachelor's degree in human relations and is enrolled at graduate school at OU.
Joining the duo on the team are seniors Chrissy Disarro (health and exercise science) and Sarah Freudenrich (human resources management), sophomores María Fernanda (health and exercise science) and Morgan Reynolds (elementary education) and junior Caitlin Higgins (microbiology). Higgins was named to the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District third team.
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Time Change for November 20 | Nov. 11, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma officials have announced a time change for the Nov. 20 volleyball match between Oklahoma and Kansas State. The match will now begin at 3 p.m. CT at McCasland Field House. Tickets remain and are available for purchase at the Field House ticket office one hour prior to the start of the event or online.
The Sooners honor kids' day and will have yo-yos available to the first 250 fans through the doors. OU invites all kids to participate in a post-match clinic, beginning at approximately 5 p.m. CT.
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Iowa State Match Time Set | Nov. 8, 2010 |
ABC announced that Oklahoma's football game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Nov. 13 will be at 2:30 p.m. CT. As a result, the Oklahoma-Iowa State volleyball match is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT at McCasland Field House. Fans enjoy free admission on fan appreciation day.
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AVCA Play of the Week Nominee | Nov. 4, 2010 |
On Thursday, Oklahoma was named one of five finalists for the Volleyball Market/AVCA Play of the Week (click to vote). Fans have until 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday to cast their vote. The play came during Saturday's match against Baylor.
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McLaurin Earns Third Big 12 Honor | Nov. 1, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma freshman Sallie McLaurin (Midwest City, Okla.) has been named the Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week for a third time this season (previously on Oct. 11 and 18). The honor comes following McLaurin's performance in OU's come-from-behind win against Baylor on Saturday. The Sooners trailed 2-1 and rallied back to win 3-2.
McLaurin produced a .370 hitting percentage, connecting on 14 of 27 attempts in OU's only match last week. She added a match-high six total blocks, including one block solo and a season-best three service aces. She recorded 20.5 points in the match, her second highest total this year.
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Trick or Treat? | Oct. 29, 2010 |
The Sooners face Baylor Saturday at 2 p.m. and Brianne Barker, Suzy Boulavsky, Caitlin Higgins and Kylie Cowan got together yesterday to film a small promotional video for Sooner Nation. For those of you that have never met the team, Saturday's a great time to come out. The video below is proof of how fun Sooner volleyball really is.
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An Off-Day Full of Fun | Oct. 28, 2010 |
The OU volleyball team took to the bowling alley up in Oklahoma City Wednesday. All of the teams were picked at random and the inner bowler in all of us came out. Team 3 came out as the clear winner with senior Chrissy Disarro carrying all of the weight. Disarro boweled a 213 in her second game! To see a photo gallery from the outing, click here.
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Freudenrich Looks Back | Oct. 27, 2010 |
Today's post comes courtesy of senior middle blocker Sarah Freudenrich, who looks back on the first half of Big 12 play.
Well it's halfway through the Big 12 season and we are 8-3 our only loses for our entire season have come against top 25 opponents. During two-a days in August, I told my mom that we had an amazing group of freshman and how exciting it was that we were all good volleyball players. Santi provided us with tough competition during preseason which gave us good practice for the competition we face in our conference play.
One of the strengths of our team is that all 16 players on our team are so good and their dedication to come to practice every day, work hard and compete makes each of us better players. The game against Kansas two weeks ago was one of our best and we hadn't won there since I've been playing and that win was great for our confidence and a validation of what we are capable of.
Our match against Texas A&M was a must win for us to continue to stay tied for third in the standings with Iowa State, and even though we were sloppy at times, we fought and came back and won. We finished strong! We have a fun, talented group a women that I am proud to be playing with and look forward to the second half of our season as we look to participate in another NCAA Tournament.
Boomer Sooner!
Sarah
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McLaurin Earns Second Big 12 Honor | Oct. 18, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma freshman middle blocker Sallie McLaurin has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for a second consecutive week the league office announced today.
McLaurin paced the Big 12 with 1.71 blocks (nine block assists, three block solos) as OU went 1-1 last week. She also averaged 2.71 kills on .471 hitting while scoring 27.5 points. Both ranked second on the Sooner squad.
Against No. 11 Texas, she had nine kills and a .300 attack clip in the four-set loss. McLaurin added a match-high seven total blocks.
In the sweep of Kansas, McLaurin connected on 10 kills in 14 swings with no errors to compile a season-best .714 hitting percentage. The Midwest City, Okla.-middle blocker also contributed a match-best 13.5 points and five total blocks, including two block solos.
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Baylor Match Time Set | Oct. 18, 2010 |
ESPN announced that Oklahoma's football game against Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 30 will be at 8:15 p.m. CT. As a result, the Oklahoma-Baylor volleyball match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT at McCasland Field House. Fans enjoy free admission on fan appreciation day.
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AVCA Play of the Week Nominee | Oct. 14, 2010 |
On Thursday, Oklahoma was named one of five finalists for the Volleyball Market/AVCA Play of the Week (click to vote). Fans have until 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday to cast their vote. The play came during the third set of Saturday evening's match against Missouri. The two teams combined for a one minute, 9.01 second rally which saw Oklahoma win the point.
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McLaurin Big 12 Rookie of the Week | Oct. 11, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma freshman middle blocker Sallie McLaurin (Midwest City, Okla.) has been named the Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week, the league announced this afternoon. The honor comes after McLaurin led the Sooners to a 2-0 record on the week with wins at Kansas State and at home against Missouri.
"Sallie was a big factor in our wins this week," said OU head coach Santiago Restrepo. "She really came through for us Saturday night, and it's great to see her rewarded for her effort."
McLaurin posted a team-best 34.0 points on the week and averaged 3.00 kills and a league-best 2.43 blocks per set. She also hit .283 on the week.
She had her first career double-double Saturday evening with 16 kills and 12 total blocks against Missouri. Her four block solos, eight block assists, six digs and two service aces were also career bests.
On Wednesday at Kansas State, McLaurin had one block solo and four block assists against the Wildcats. She also tallied five kills.
McLaurin and the Sooners return to action Wednesday evening against No. 11 Texas. First serve from McCasland Field House is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
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Ekwerekwu Lowe's Top 10 Finalist | Oct. 11, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma volleyball senior Francie Ekwerekwu (Arlington, Texas) has been named one of 10 finalists for the inaugural Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for the sport of volleyball.
Fan balloting is now open and fans may vote once a day. The fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. The winner will be announced at the 2010 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.
Ekwerekwu recently graduated with a 3.74 cumulative grade point average and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma. She is currently enrolled in the human relations Master's program at OU and has a 4.0 GPA. After graduating in May 2011, she plans to attend law school. Ekwerekwu is a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 team.
She is a Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar. The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program prepares first generation, low income, and under-represented undergraduate juniors and seniors for graduate education through preparatory workshops, seminars, lectures and exposure to a research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
In July Ekwerekwu was selected as one of five national recipients of the John McLendon Postgraduate Scholarship by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
Ekwerekwu is a Big Sister with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization in Norman and president of the University of Oklahoma Bridge Builders program. She is also a member of the Fellowship of Athletes leadership team and was a volunteer for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Children's Run.
On campus, Ekwerekwu helped organize a Black History Month Poetry Night and African American History Art Show at OU and is a member of The Impact Movement, a student Bible study and outreach group. She also is a member of the Black Student Association.
She has also provided Christmas gifts and mentoring for youth in delinquent centers in the Oklahoma City metro area and serves as a volunteer at KinderCare Child Daycare Center in Norman. Ekwerekwu has spent time working with underprivileged children and youth in the metro area through Family Development and Intervention Services of Oklahoma City.
Ekwerekwu has volunteered her time with the Special Olympics in Norman, Toys for Tots, Christmas Angel Tree and at several food banks, homeless shelters and day care centers not previously mentioned. She has served as a referee for a home school volleyball league in Norman and attended the 2009 NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando.
Ekwerekwu was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a junior and earned All-Freshman team honors in 2007. This past season she was named Most Valuable Player of the UT-Arlington Invitational. In three seasons, Ekwerekwu has been a consistent starter at middle blocker for the Sooners. She has helped lead the team to the NCAA Championship twice (2009, 2007).
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Military Appreciation Night | Oct. 7, 2010 |
The Sooners host Missouri Saturday evening at 7 p.m. CT at McCasland Field House. It's a special night for the team as they welcome members of the armed forces for military appreciation night. Military members and their families receive a discounted $4 admission rate when a valid military ID is presented at the ticket booth.
OU's connection to the military is a close one - assistant coach Kelly Files' husband is currently deployed. The team often participates in activities to support our troops and did so early this year. Back on Aug. 26, the team got a special visit from members of the United States Marine Corps. The team signed posters to send to OU alums serving in Afghanistan and took a few pictures as well.
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Year of the Fan | Sept. 30, 2010 |
The Oklahoma volleyball team honored its fans at the Year of the Fan night Wednesday evening against No. 3 Nebraska. A total of 1,109 fans came to watch the match and giveaways were held throughout the evening. Fans were also able to receive a collectible Year of the Fan volleyball pin.
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Thank You Just Isn't Enough | Sept. 28, 2010 |
Today's blog post is courtesy of junior right side Suzy Boulavsky. With the Sooners celebrating the Year of the Fan Wednesday night, Boulavsky wanted to share her thanks to Sooner Nation.
Colors are more than a physical description. We all have our own colors. The ones we love, the ones we hate, the ones our personalities reflect. Here I am, a junior, and I still feel like a little kid. When thinking about the colors I shine, I probably exemplify bright messy colors done by finger painting, based on how you see me on the court. Loud. Jumpy. Screaming. Well, you're probably right, so I am going to dive a little deeper. I am going to share our sincere gratitude and appreciation for everything that has been done. Saying "thank you" isn't enough. After all, this goes directly to the fans. You.
It's true you gain a new respectability with experience. You learn accountability and higher expectations. Fans recognize you. Rookies admire you. Both depend on you. You gain a sense of urgency to not let anyone down.
Going into this year, it was difficult knowing what to expect. Gaining seven new players is a big deal. Gaining seven new players who all have the ability to make a difference is even bigger. Returning a few starters is good. Returning six is great. We have everything it takes to send this program where it's never been. We're definitely on the right track. Adrenaline, please keep pumping.
Ask Brianne Barker, and she will tell you what makes a team great instead of good is fire - that fire that pushes you to limits and victories that you only dreamed of having. That fire that pushed us to make history in Austin two years ago, beating Texas at their place for the first time. Ever. It's time for us to come through with another big victory, and we are ready because of you.
Seven seasons ago, the average attendance at an OU volleyball game was 285, with a grand total of 3,421 fans. Last year at our home match versus Nebraska alone, we had 2,046 in attendance. Talk about growth. And, if you would notice, each season has produced more and more wins. I am pretty sure there is some kind of relationship there. I don't know, I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure our fans have A LOT to do with the way we play. And I could never be more grateful.
Thank you for getting involved with each point in each game. Thank you for getting mad when we make stupid mistakes or don't go for a ball like we should. Thank you for supporting our team. You can ask any team in the Big 12, and they will all agree that OU's gym is tough to play in. It's not just the program that is intimidating, but it's you, the fans. We could never ask for anything more.
Here we are beginning the Year of the Fan, and it's time to celebrate you for everything you have done. Let's make history again with this match. Let us show you how thankful we are for your energetic support. Students. Athletes. Parents. Schools. It's all about you, so let's take care of business together.
Each individual on our team carries different colors. We have some yellows, some blues, some pinks. What matters Wednesday is that we each show off our crimson and cream.
Thank you for all you do for us.
Suzy
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It's All About the Fans Wednesday | Sept. 27, 2010 |
On Wednesday evening, the Sooner volleyball celebrates the fans! The first 1,000 attendees receive the collectible Year of the Fan volleyball pin, but the giveaways don't stop there. As a thank you to our loyal fans and students, several prizes are up for grabs. The only way to win is to be there, so come out to McCasland Field House at 7 p.m. CT as the Sooners take on No. 3 Nebraska. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. Admission is free for students with a valid ID.
Giveaways For General Public
OU Wall Clock
OU Bike
OU Apparel
OU Game Worn Football Jersey
Giveaways For Students
$100 MidFirst Bank Gift Card
$50 Book Scholarship
$50 Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Card
OU Apparel Pack
Free pizza as long as supplies last
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Thanks for Making a Difference | Sept. 23, 2010 |
Many thanks to all who turned out in support of the 2010 Pledge for a Cure event. It's never too late to donate. Download a pledge card here and mail it to the Jimmy Everest Center using the address on the card. Donations will be accepted through the remainder of the 2010 volleyball season.
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A Night for Javi | Sept. 21, 2010 |
Oklahoma head coach Santiago Restrepo spoke at Southmoore High School's Pink-Out match on Tuesday evening. Coach Restrepo shared the story of his son, Javier, who lost his battle with leukemia last summer. On Wednesday evening, the Sooners host Pledge for a Cure to raise funds for the Jimmy Everest Center. If you're not familiar with Restrepo's story, we encourage you to watch the video below.
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Norman Hispanic Festival | Sept. 13, 2010 |
Oklahoma head coach Santiago Restrepo made a stop at the Norman Hispanic Festival on Sunday afternoon at the Norman Public Library. Restrepo addressed attendees regarding Hispanic Heritage Night on Sept. 22 and passed out flyers to library patrons. Restrepo even got help from his son, Diego.
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AVCA Play of the Week Nominee | Sept. 9, 2010 |
On Thursday, Oklahoma was named one of three finalists for the Volleyball Market/AVCA Play of the Week (click to vote). Fans have until 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday to cast their vote. The play came during the first set of Tuesday evening's match at Arkansas. Just when it looked as if OU would lose a point, senior Sarah Freudenrich played the ball away at the net, freshman Eden Williams punched it into the air and junior Brianne Barker sailed an overpass over that found the floor for a kill.
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A Closer Look at Hitting Percentage | Sept. 8, 2010 |
Oklahoma hit .325 during Tuesday evening's five set win at Arkansas. It was the highest hitting percentage recorded by an OU squad in a five set match during the ralling scoring era. During that same span (2001-present, scoring changed from 30 to 25 points in 2008), the Sooners have posted a better hitting percentage just 16 times and all of those were done in three set matches. We did some digging to bring you that list.
| Hitting Pct. | Opponent | Date |
| .440 | TCU | Oct. 31, 2006 |
| .402 | Oral Roberts | Sept. 7, 2004 |
| .394 | Texas Southern | Sept. 9, 2006 |
| .383 | South Dakota State | Sept. 2, 2006 |
| .364 | Elon | Sept. 12, 2003 |
| .361 | Oregon State | Sept. 2, 2006 |
| .360 | Seton Hall | Aug. 25, 2007 |
| .352 | Missouri | Oct. 18, 2006 |
| .348 | Texas Tech | Nov. 7, 2007 |
| .347 | Rice | Aug. 28, 2009 |
| .347 | Indiana | Sept. 2, 2005 |
| .345 | Texas A&M | Oct. 28, 2006 |
| .343 | Colorado | Oct. 28, 2009 |
| .343 | Providence | Sept. 13, 2004 |
| .341 | Kansas | Nov. 7, 2009 |
| .336 | Denver | Aug. 24, 2007 |
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Restrepo Interview Following UCA Match | Sept. 2, 2010 |
Oklahoma defeated Central Arkansas, 3-1, Wednesday evening at McCasland Field House. Check out the photo gallery from the match and see what head coach Santiago Restrepo had to say below.
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Looking Back at the Nike Invitational | Aug. 30, 2010 |
Oklahoma hosted the Nike Invitational this past weekend. The Sooners went 2-1 in the event with wins over UT-Arlington and Miami. Suzy Boulavsky and Brianne Barker earned all-tournament team honors.
Check out the photo galleries from the event:
vs. Wichita State | vs. UT-Arlington | vs. Miami
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Marines Visit Practice | Aug. 26, 2010 |
Prior to Wednesday's practice, the team got a special visit from members of the United States Marine Corps. The team signed posters to send to OU alums serving in Afghanistan and took a few pictures as well.
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Sooner Nation Weekend | Aug. 25, 2010 |
University of Oklahoma students have chances to win prizes this weekend by attending the Nike Invitational.
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A Look Back at Picture Day | Aug. 24, 2010 |
The team took part in picture day back on Aug. 13. Well, we wanted to share some of the shots you wouldn't normally see, so we made a photo gallery with eight of the best behind the scenes photos.
The Sooners hit the floor for practice Tuesday afternoon, too. Here's a few post-practice comments as OU prepares for the Nike Invitational this weekend at McCasland Field House.
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It's Back to School Time | Aug. 23, 2010 |
Students returned to the University of Oklahoma campus Monday for the start of the 2010 fall semester. It also marks the end of preseason practice for the volleyball team. Beginning today, the team transitions into match-week preparation with practice in the afternoons almost daily. The Sooners open the season this weekend, hosting the Nike Invitational at McCasland Field House. Check out the schedule for complete details. And, if you're not already following us on Twitter, you should be. You never know when we might give something away.
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Barker, Higgins Carry Red Past White | Aug. 21, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team took the intrasquad scrimmage to five sets on Saturday afternoon at McCasland Field House. Juniors Brianne Barker and Caitlin Higgins (Amarillo, Texas) led the red team past the white, 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-8. Barker's 36 assists set the tone for an offensive output which resulted in 21 kills for Higgins.
| Box Score: HTML |
Sophomore libero Maria Fernanda (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) recorded 31 digs, while Barker added 19 and Higgins had 17. Higgins also contributed a match-high four service aces. Junior Suzy Boulavsky (Houston, Texas) added 12 kills for the red team, while freshman Sallie McLaurin (Midwest City, Okla.) added 10 kills and led the team with five total blocks, including one block solo. Sophomore transfer Emma Kittle (Iowa City, Iowa) had seven kills and 12 digs in the win.
Freshman Cortney Warren (Houston, Texas) and sophomore Morgan Reynolds (Blue Springs, Mo.) shined for the white team, tallying 17 kills each. Freshman Andrea McQuaid (Ovilla, Texas) had a match-high 46 assists and two service aces. McQuaid and freshman Mindy Gowen (Edmond, Okla.) led the white team with 20 digs each. Freshman Eden Williams (Amarillo, Texas) had 17 digs and junior Kylie Cowan (Odessa, Texas) had 15 kills and one service ace. Junior Sarah Freudenrich (Broken Arrow, Okla.) led all blockers with 10 total blocks.
The Sooners open the 2010 season next weekend, Aug. 27-28, hosting the Nike Invitational at McCasland Field House.
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Taking Over Freshman Move-In Day | Aug. 19, 2010 |
As freshmen began moving into dorms this morning at the University of Oklahoma, the volleyball team went out to deliver posters and schedule cards.
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Scrimmage Set for Saturday | Aug. 19, 2010 |
Fans have their first opportunity to view the 2010 University of Oklahoma volleyball team during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. The team takes the floor at noon CT at McCasland Field House. Free pizza and drinks are available as long as supplies last beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Posters and schedule cards will be available and the team will sign autographs afterwards.
Single match and season tickets for the 2010 season are now on sale through the OU Athletics Ticket Office. Tickets are available online and by calling (405) 325-2424.
Group tickets are $4 for groups 10-99 and $3 for groups of 100 or more. Groups must be arranged at least 24 hours prior to the match. For further information or to purchase group tickets, please call (405) 325-2424.
Family and birthday packs are also available for as low as $7 per ticket. Please visit the ticket page or contact the ticket office for more information.
Season and single-game tickets are also available at McCasland Field House on the day of the game beginning one hour prior to game time.
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Francie's Last Rodeo | Aug. 18, 2010 |
Today's blog comes courtesy of senior middle blocker Francie Ekwerekwu.
It's my last rodeo.
My teammate Chrissy (Disarro) asked me a question the other day during practice that really got me thinking about my goals for the upcoming season. She said, "France, why did decide to play your fifth season? That takes guts." I simply replied, "It doesn't take guts; it takes dissatisfaction."
I am not satisfied leaving OU, the sport of volleyball, or sports/collegiate athletics in general without a greater victory than I have already obtained. I believe I have unfinished business as an OU volleyball player so I have chosen to challenge myself to one last season. With my third and, hopefully final, knee surgery completed this past June, I am ready to start competing pain free for the first time since being in college.
I've been an athlete all my life and I have certainly enjoyed being an athlete at OU. Volleyball has taught me so much about myself and about life. After this season I will probably no longer be a competing athlete so this season is really bittersweet for me.
On the sweet side, I am looking forward to an awesome season filled with much fun, laughter, learning experiences, memories, and wins. This 2010 team is a very talented team. All of our personalities are different yet we all have so much in common. Everyday of practice has been hilarious because everyone has such a great sense of humor and we can't help but laugh with each other. We are also really competitive. It doesn't matter if we are playing volleyball, trying to get the most chin-ups in the weight room, playing laser tag, or racing to be first in the lunch line or the cold tubs after practice...we go at it! Our potential is unreal.
I'm excited to get the ball rolling and see us compete in games against tough teams. I think we have the x-factor it will take to win consistently as well as pull off big wins. We are aiming high with goals and planning to make another NCAA Tournament appearance and hopefully go all the way to the top. Our focus and team chemistry is where it needs to be and I think the seniors this year are lucky to have such a good team behind us. I personally believe God has huge plans for this team and me in 2010. Fans, get ready for a wild ride because we need you! Team, get prepared for a season you will never forget!
Boomer Sooner!
Francie
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Behind the Scenes at Picture Day | Aug. 13, 2010 |
The OU volleyball team hit the court Friday afternoon, not for practice but for the team's annual picture day. Here's a behind-the-scenes look with junior Suzy Boulavsky.
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Random Acts of Crimson | Aug. 13, 2010 |
Earlier in the week, OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione visited sports talk radio matriarch "Miss Effie" as she celebrated her 100th birthday. On Friday morning, the Random Acts of Crimson continued as head volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo and Boomer surprised season ticket holder Jerry Green with his tickets. Coach Restrepo, Boomer and the volleyball coaching staff met Green at his office in Oklahoma City Friday morning. Green has been an OU season ticket holder for five years.
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Duo Named Preseason All-Big 12 | Aug. 12, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team received 65 points to place fourth in the preseason coaches' poll, the Big 12 announced today. Senior Francie Ekwerekwu was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 preseason team and junior Brianne Barker was named to the team, as well. Both Barker and Ekwerekwu earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors last season.
Nebraska received nine first-place votes and 98 points to finish just ahead of Texas (91). The Longhorns received two first-place votes. Iowa State (84) was third, followed by OU and Missouri (63). Baylor (52), Texas A&M (48), Kansas (38), Kansas State (37), Texas Tech (15) and Colorado (14) rounded out the voting.
To view the compete preseason All-Big 12 team, visit Big12Sports.com.
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OU Takes the Floor | Aug. 9, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team hit the floor for the first practice of the season Monday morning at 10 a.m. CT. After finishing up preseason conditioning tests, the Sooners broke into teams and promptly began preparing for the season.
OU takes the floor again today at 1 p.m. CT for a second practice. The team is scheduled to have two-a-days every day this week except Friday.
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Sooners Report for 2010 Season | Aug. 8, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team reported to campus Sunday afternoon. Head coach Santiago Restrepo welcomed nine returning veterans and seven newcomers for the upcoming season.
"We are very excited about beginning our preparation for the upcoming season," said Restrepo. "We look forward to having our returners back along with our newcomers. We can't wait to start and feel this season could be very special for us."
Among the nine returning players, three earned individual honors in 2009. Junior Suzy Boulavsky was named honorable mention all-region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Junior Brianne Barker and senior Francie Ekwerekwu earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
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Volleyball Earns AVCA Academic Award | Aug. 4, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball program has been awarded a 2009-10 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic award. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.
The Sooners were one of 94 NCAA Division I women's programs honored and part of a record-breaking 450 teams awarded the distinction by the AVCA. Of the 11 schools that compete in volleyball in the Big 12, Oklahoma and Kansas were named to the list.
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Sooners Selected for TV Broadcasts | July 23, 2010 |
The University of Oklahoma volleyball team will appear on ESPNU twice during the 2010 season, the network and the Big 12 Conference announced today. The Sooners are scheduled to face defending Big 12 champion Texas on Oct. 13 in Norman and Texas A&M in College Station on Nov. 3. As a result both match times have been changed.
The Texas match has been moved up to a 6 p.m. CT start while the match against the Aggies was pushed back to an 8 p.m. CT first serve.
Oklahoma opens the 2010 season Aug. 27-28 with the Nike Invitational at McCasland Field House.
Players Mentioned
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OH/OPP
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/ VolleyballVB Highlights: OU 3, Florida State 2
Wednesday, September 10
VB Highlights: OU 3, Abilene Christian 0
Saturday, August 30
VB Highlights: OU 3, Incarnate Word 0
Friday, August 29
VB Highlights: OU 3, Missouri State 1
Friday, August 29
