OU Volleyball Takes Aim at Omaha in 2015

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma head volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo has released his team's 2015 schedule, which features 14 home matches and 11 against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The Sooners open the year against Florida State, ranked third in the final RPI of 2014, at the Colorado Tournament on Friday, August 28.

Opening weekend will be an immediate test for OU as all three opponents, including San Diego (45) and Colorado (24), finished last season among the RPI's top-50. Overall, the Sooners will face 10 top-50 teams, totaling 14 matches, and 13 top-75 teams, totaling 19 matches.

Oklahoma hosts a pair of early season tournaments beginning with the NIKE Invitational, September 3-5 against Arkansas-Little Rock (29), Central Arkansas and North Texas. Two weeks later, the Sooners welcome USC (19), Maryland and Washington (4) for the Oklahoma Invitational, September 17-19.

The Big 12 slate opens on the road at Texas Tech on September 23 followed by the home, conference opener against Iowa State (17) on September 30. Texas comes to Norman for the regular season finale on November 28.

To view the full list of matches, dates and times, click here.
To receive notification when season tickets go on sale, click here.

The 2015 NCAA Final Four will be played at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

Restrepo "Quoteables"

Santiago Restrepo

“We're extremely excited for this season, knowing how we finished last year. Now, we are really going to jump into the fire right away. In the first tournament, we go against three teams that played in the NCAA and could be ranked top-25 this season. That tournament will let us know what level of play we are going to be at.”

“There was definitely a goal. Our players that have two or three years' experience need to get ready for a new challenge. With that challenge comes more pressure, but it is all wanted pressure. Our kids can handle a lot of high pressure situations and have shown they can do that. We bring almost everybody back and bringing teams like USC, Washington and Maryland into our gym should be exciting for our team and our fans.”

“I've never had a team like this. That's why I'm very excited about the opportunity for this year and what is ahead of us. I can't wait for us to go into the gym, start working out, start preseason and see where we are.”

Season Noteables

Kierra Holst

The Sooners return 10 letterwinners from a year ago, including all six starters.
Oklahoma returns three All-Big 12 First Team performers; Julia Doyle (Big 12 Setter of the Year), Kierra Holst and Madison Ward.
15 matches vs. 11 2014 NCAA Tournament participants.
Opponents went 12-11 in 2014 NCAA Tournament with Sweet 16 appearances by Florida State and Washington and a Final Four Appearance by Texas.
14 matches vs. 10 Top-50 RPI teams.
19 matches vs. 13 Top-75 RPI teams.
Four opponents have combined to play in 14 Final Fours since 2004.
Oklahoma was one of five Big 12 teams to reach the NCAA Tournament in 2014; the third most among all conferences in the country.

Home Court Defendables

McCasland Field House

14 home matches are the most for the Sooners since going 11-4 at McCasland Field House in 2012.
Since 2010, Oklahoma is 58-15 (.795) when playing at home.
The Sooners have broken the program's average attendance record in each of the last two seasons. In 2014, OU averaged 942 fans per home contest.
In the last two seasons, the Sooners have posted the second and third highest single-match attendance totals on record. Last season's 2,439 vs. Texas ranks second ahead of 2013 vs. Texas at 2,128.
With eight NCAA Tournament appearances in nine seasons, Oklahoma has posted a 97-39 (.713) mark at McCasland Field House.