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Outside hitter Caitlin Higgins

Higgins, Barker Earn Honor

Dynamic duo ends season with conference honor

Dec. 1, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma volleyball freshmen Caitlin Higgins (Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa) and Brianne Barker (Amarillo, Texas/High) have been named to the 2008 Big 12 All-Freshman Team the league office announced today. Joining Higgins and Barker on the team were Freshman of the Year Michelle Kocher (Texas), Rachel Hockaday (Iowa State), Nicole Tate (Kansas) and Amanda Dowdy (Texas Tech).

The honors cap off a season in which the Sooners finished 12-16, 8-12 in conference play. Oklahoma finished seventh in the regular season final standings and had a key win over third-ranked Texas in Austin on Oct. 29.

Higgins finished the season second on the team in kills (276), kills per set (2.49) and fourth in digs (315) and digs per set (2.84). She hit .113 on the year and led the team with 30 service aces. Higgins was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 3 and followed with the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week the following day. Higgins became the first Sooner to earn national player of the week honors and the first OU freshman to earn a weekly honor from the Big 12.

Barker led the team in assists, tallying a freshman record 1,035 for a 9.32 assists per set average. Barker hit .254 on the year and was third on the team in digs (316) and digs per set (2.85). Barker was named Best Setter of the Red Raider Round Up after the Sooners won the tournament title earlier this year.

2008 BIG 12 ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Name, School	Pos.	Hometown (Previous School)
Rachel Hockaday, Iowa State	OH	Decatur, Ill. (Maroa-Forsyth)
Nicole Tate, Kansas	S	St. Louis, Mo. (Lindbergh)
Brianne Barker, Oklahoma	S	Amarillo, Texas (High)
Caitlin Higgins, Oklahoma	OH	Amarillo, Texas (Tascosa)
Michelle Kocher, Texas	S	Wheaton, Ill. (St. Francis)
Amanda Dowdy, Texas Tech	MB	Lexington, Texas (High)

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