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April 9, 2012

2012 Home Volleyball Schedule  Aug. 24  Missouri State  Aug. 24  Western Michigan  Aug. 25  Tulsa  Sept. 14  SMU  Sept. 15  UALR  Sept. 15  New Mexico  Sept. 19  Kansas State*  Sept. 29  West Virginia*  Oct. 3  Wichita State  Oct. 10  Kansas*  Oct. 12  Baylor*  Oct. 26  Texas*  Oct. 31  Texas Tech*  Nov. 10  Iowa State*  Nov. 21  TCU* Complete 2012 Oklahoma Volleyball Schedule

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and head volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo announced the Sooners’ 2012 schedule Monday. A total of 15 home matches take place at Howard McCasland Field House, including two home non-conference tournaments.

“We’re going to need people to take on leadership positions this year more than others,” Restrepo said. “We’re going to be younger than usual, but we’re going to be more physical. This class coming in is one of the most talented incoming groups since I’ve been here. Our schedule is one of the toughest since I’ve been here. We’re playing 12 teams that made the NCAA Championship last year. We need our freshmen and sophomores to step up because of the competitiveness of our schedule. We’re looking forward to seeing what we’re capable of.”

Oklahoma faces 12 teams that made the 2011 NCAA Championship, including four third round opponents and two quarterfinalists. The Sooners were 6-10 against tournament teams last season which included an upset of eighth-ranked Texas on Sept. 28. Of teams OU faced on the 2011 schedule, the Sooners went 11-6 against those teams last season.

Oklahoma opens the season with the Nike Invitational Aug. 24-25 at McCasland Field House. All four teams participating in the tournament – OU, Missouri State, Western Michigan and Tulsa were participants in the 2011 NCAA Championship. Tulsa ended the Sooners’ season with a 3-1 win in the first round in Los Angeles.

OU hits the road for tournaments at Northern Colorado and Nebraska this season and also faces Colorado State and Arkansas in away matches. SMU, Arkansas-Little Rock and New Mexico take part in the Oklahoma Invitational Sept. 14-15 before conference play starts.

Oklahoma hosts Kansas State on Sept. 19 and travels to Texas on Sept. 22 before welcoming the newest Big 12 Conference member West Virginia on Sept. 29. A non-conference match against Wichita State is set for Oct. 3 with conference play resuming at TCU on Oct. 6. Back-to-back home matches against Kansas and Baylor take place before a two-match road trip to Texas Tech and Iowa State. OU begins the second half of conference play at home against Texas on Oct. 26 and closes out the month against Texas Tech at home on Oct. 31.

The final month of play begins at West Virginia on Nov. 3 and at Baylor on Nov. 7. Iowa State makes the return trip to Norman on Nov. 10 before traveling to Kansas on Nov. 14. The final home regular season match is scheduled for Nov. 21 against TCU. The Sooners close out the regular season at Kansas State on Nov. 24.

“We added a team that’s been very consistent for the past several years in TCU,” Restrepo added. “They’ve given us tough matches and are a great addition to the Big 12. We’ve had very good attendance in the past when we’ve played them due to the proximity of the two schools. They’ll be exciting to play every year. West Virginia is an extremely talented team and has very good coaches and athletes. They’re a team that presents a new set of challenges with the distance between campuses.”

Oklahoma returns 10 letterwinners from 2011’s team that went 21-12 overall and 8-8 in the Big 12 Conference. Among those returning include junior middle blocker Sallie McLaurin who earned honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last year.

Stay tuned to SoonerSports.com for information regarding 2012 season tickets.