Sooner squad hopes to start new streak with home tournament

The OU volleyball team is back in action this weekend, hosting its second tournament of the season at McCasland Field House.

The Sooners will welcome Boise State, Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Arkansas-Little Rock for the Oklahoma Invitational.

Oklahoma comes in ranked No. 22 in the country, but reeling from its first losing streak of the season. After dropping a 3-1 match to Miami (Fla.) last Saturday, the Sooners blew a 2-0 lead at Wichita State on Wednesday night, falling to the Shockers, 3-2.

OU coach Santiago Restrepo said he was disappointed to waste a huge performance from freshman outside hitter Tara Dunn, who exploded for 29 kills and 15 digs against Wichita State.

We did a little bit of tweaking with the lineup to see how it was going to be, Restrepo said. I thought Tara Dunn for being a freshman playing in a big match did an excellent job.

Restrepo said that not having a good team mentality ultimately is what led to the loss.

Unfortunately, we didnt have everybody on board with [Dunn], so thats what hurt us, Restrepo said. We just have to be better about being a team and contributing to the cause.

Restrepo said the strategy for this tournament will be geared toward getting everyone on the court and working out a definite lineup for conference play, which begins Sept. 21.

I think the bottom line is were trying to give opportunities to players that didnt play that much, Restrepo said, a chance to play to see that they can show what theyre capable of doing and where we go from here.

The Sooners will face Texas Southern at 2 p.m. and Arkansas-Little Rock at 7 p.m. Friday, then OU plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff at noon and Boise State at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Texas Southern Tigers

2011 Record: 1-6

Last game: Beat Huston Tillotson, 3-0

Key Players: OH Mona Reed, OH Precious Spenser, DS Courtney Dixon

This is a very young TSU team with only two seniors on the roster. Freshman outside hitter Mona Reed leads the Tiger offense, averaging two kills per set. Freshman outside hitter Precious Spenser is second on the team with a 1.38 average.



Sophomore defensive specialist Courtney Dixon is third on the team in total digs with 24 and second on the team in average with 1.71 digs per set.

Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans

2011 Record: 3-7

Last game: Lost to Northwestern, 0-3

Key Players: OH Edina Begic, MB Paige Gantar, OH Kristi Block

The Trojan offense has two players averaging more than three kills per set freshman outside hitter Edina Begic and junior middle blocker Paige Gantar. Begic leads the team with a 3.57 average, and Gantar chips in with a 3.19 average and a .305 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Kristi Block leads the team in blocks and blocks per set with 38 and a 1.03 average.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

2011 Record: 1-8

Last game: Beat Alcorn State, 3-1

Key Players: MB Michelle Fiala, OH Mariah Roby, DS Lorin Johnson

The Golden Lions are coming off their first win of the season Tuesday night. UAPB is led by senior middle blocker Michelle Fiala, who is averaging 1.63 kills per set this season. Senior outside hitter Mariah Roby is averaging 1.32 kills per set. Defensively, senior defensive specialist Lorin Johnson leads the team with 74 digs so far this season for a 2.47 digs per set average. The Golden Lions are only hitting .030 for the season as a team.

Boise State Broncos

2011 Record: 5-3

Last game: Beat Weber State, 3-0

Key Players: OH Liz Harden, OH Fiona Jones, L Amanda Remy

Junior outside hitter Liz Harden is averaging 2.96 kills per set to lead the Bronco offense. Boise State is the only other team in the tournament with a winning record. Junior outside hitter Fiona Jones is second on the team in kills with 76, for a 2.62 kills per set average. Senior libero Amanda Remy is a terrific defensive leader, averaging 5.34 digs per set.`