Oklahoma plays host to Missouri State. Tulsa and Western Michigan for the 2012 Nike Invitational.
NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma volleyball team (0-0) sets off the 2012 season at home for the third consecutive year with the 2012 Nike Invitational when it plays host to Missouri State (0-0), Tulsa (0-0) and Western Michigan (0-0) for the two-day tournament, Friday, Aug. 24 through Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Howard McCasland Field House.
The Sooners will take on Missouri State Friday at 7 p.m. CT, Western Michigan Saturday at noon and Tulsa Saturday night at 7 p.m. to conclude the invitational.
Series History
The Sooners lead Tulsa 33-2 all-time. The two teams saw each other last in the first round of the 2011 NCAA tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., as Tulsa knocked OU out of the tournament in four sets (22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 19-25). At home, OU has never dropped a match to Tulsa with a 16-0 record.
Missouri State leads the all-time series with Oklahoma, 23-8. Oklahoma has claimed the past three meetings (2006, 2010, 2011), including wins in back-to-back Nike Invitational matches, including a four-set match last year in which OU prevailed with the W. In Norman, the Bears are 3-2 when up against the Sooners.
Despite recent matches against Tulsa and Missouri State, it has been 20 years (1992) since Western Michigan and Oklahoma haven taken the court against one another. The Mustangs have taken two wins, and dropped one decision. Each match between the two teams has been decided in three sets.
Season Openers
Under head coach Santiago Restrepo, the Sooners are 6-2 in both lid-lifters and home openers. The Crimson and Cream claimed last year's home- and season-opener against SMU at the 2011 Nike Invitational, In the past eight years they have claimed season-openers over Providence, TCU, Denver, Michigan State, Houston Baptist and SMU, dropping two season-opening games at home against Arkansas (2006) and Wichita State (2010) - two seasons that saw the Sooners compete in the NCAA Championship third round.
Reloading for 2012
While the Sooners lost five talented seniors in Brianne Barker, Suzy Boulavsky, Kylie Cowan, Caitlin Higgins and Carlee Roethlisberger, Oklahoma returns two starters plus a libero, and welcomes a handful of skilled newcomers.
2011 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America selection, and 2011 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Sallie McLaurin and sophomore Tara Dunn provide depth up front, while senior libero Maria Fernanda gives the Sooners an unprecedented strength on defense.
The Sooners also have a talented group of young freshmen with Summer Cole, Julia Doyle, Kierra Holst, Taylor Migliazzo and Madison Ward.
Fresh Faces
The Sooner volleyball team welcomes a few fresh faces to its bench this season. Erik Peterson joins the staff as an assistant coach, Orlando Catalan as a volunteer assistant coach and former trainer, Kim Elwood, as director of operations.
On the Web
Fans can follow live stats for all of Oklahoma's matches with a link via the schedule page on SoonerSports.com, or by following the link here. Stats will go live at the start of the match. Fans can also catch updates via Twitter on the official page of the volleyball program, @SoonerVB.
Tickets and Promotions
Season tickets are on sale now for purchase online and by phone (800-456-GoOU). Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens. Single-game tickets are also on sale and will also be available at the box-office one hour before the start of the match. Below is a look at some of the promotions planned for this weekend:
Friday, August 24 vs. Missouri State
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Free 2012 posters & schedule cards
Saturday, August 25 vs. Western Michigan
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Free 2012 posters & schedule cards
Saturday, August 25 vs. Tulsa
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Free 2012 posters & schedule cards
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Post-match autographs
Students are eligible to participate in Sooner Nation Kickoff Weekend, where prizes will be given away at each home sporting event.
