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VOLLEYBALL
Sooners hope to turn Sweet into Elite 2011 Schedule » Nike Invitational (Norman) Aug. 26 — SMU Aug. 27 — Oral Roberts Missouri State
Aug. 29 — Colorado State » North Texas Invitational (Denton, Texas) Sept. 2 — Cincinnati Sept. 3 — North Texas Sam Houston State
Sept. 6 — Arkansas » Miami Invitational (Miami) Sept. 9 — Florida A&M Sept. 10 — Auburn Miami (Fla.)
Sept. 14 — Wichita State » Oklahoma Invitational (Norman) Sept. 16 — Texas Southern Arkansas-Little Rock Sept. 17 — Arkansas-Pine Bluff Boise State
Sept. 21 — Baylor Sept. 28 — Texas Oct. 1 — Texas Tech Oct. 5 — Missouri Oct. 8 — Iowa State Oct. 12 — Texas A&M Oct. 15 — Kansas Oct. 22 — Kansas State Oct. 29 — Missouri Nov. 2 — Iowa State Nov. 9 — Kansas State Nov. 12 — Baylor Nov. 16 — Kansas Nov. 19 — Texas A&M Nov. 23 — Texas Tech Nov. 26 — Texas Bold denotes home games
OU coach, players say they won’t be satisfied unless they go to the Elite Eight
By the numbers
LUKE MCCONNELL
23
Wins for OU last season, the most since winning 28 in 2006
The Oklahoma Daily
When the Oklahoma Sooner volleyball team’s season was ended in the Sweet 16 by eventual champion Penn State last December, the Sooners walked off disappointed but with their heads held high. The Sooners won 23 games last season, their highest total since 2006, and finished third in the Big 12, one of the most competitive conferences in the country. That finish was satisfying for them at the time. But that was then. After a great 2010 season filled with many accomplishments, the Sooners are coming into 2011 with very high expectations. “Our goal has always been winning the Big 12,” OU coach Santiago Restrepo said. “Since we made it to the Sweet 16 (last season), our goal is to make it to the Elite Eight or better (this season).” Oklahoma returns all but two players from the 2010 squad and will be led by a veteran senior class, many of whom have been starting since they arrived on campus in 2008. “It helps that people have played together for at least a year,” Restrepo said. “It would be pretty easy to just plug one (new) player in there and get the flow going again.” The Sooners ended last season ranked No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, territory OU had not ventured into since November of 2007. Senior setter Brianne Barker said the momentum from that accomplishment is something the team hopes
13
Wins in conference play for the Sooners, who ended 3rd in the Big 12
10.39
Assists per set by senior setter Brianne Barker last season, 4th in the Big 12
4.26
Digs per set by junior María Fernanda, 6th in the Big 12
4
Seniors on this year’s squad compared to just two last season
3.45
Kills per set by senior right side Suzy Boulavsky last season, 8th in the Big 12
1.25
Blocks per set by sophomore middle blocker Sallie McLaurin last season, 4th in the Big 12
0
Dollars it costs OU students with valid IDs to attend volleyball games
MARK MORELAND/THE DAILY
Senior outside hitter Caitlin Higgins (10) serves the ball while senior setter Brianne Barker (front) readies to defend during a game last season. The Sooners finished 23-11 in 2010. to carry over into the new season. “I think more than anything, it gets people looking at us and thinking about us,” Barker said. “If you can start ranked, that’s a really big deal, and we have a very good shot of doing that.” Because of the successes in 2010, Oklahoma is no longer looking at itself as the hunter but the hunted. For the Sooners, playing with
a target on their backs is something that will be completely new territory for this group of players. “The good thing about it is we have a whole bunch of seniors,” Restrepo said. “Hopefully with that leadership from this group we can attain those goals.” On the court, the Sooners play at an extremely quick pace offensively, one of their biggest strengths.
Barker said many of OU’s opponents had problems against the Sooners last season because they had trouble adjusting to the pace of the game. “Even when we played Penn State last year, they said they had a hard time keeping up with our speed,” Barker said. READ THE FULL STORY ON OUDAILY.COM
Meet the coach SANTIAGO RESTREPO » Years at OU: Entering eighth » Hometown: Bogota, Colombia » Record (OU): 122-94 (.565) » Season stats: The Sooner record books have been rewritten under Restrepo, with most of the program bests coming during his tenure. His combination of international recruiting and tough instruction has raised OU to new heights.
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