PLAYERS MEDIA GUIDE Players.indd 9 8/29/2007 10:26:10 AM
MARIANA BLUM SENIOR 5-10 OUTSIDE HITTER SAO BERNARDO, BRAZIL HUTCHINSON CC 13 Kills 11 (vs. Texas Southern 9/9/06) Aces 2 (four times) Digs 9 (vs. TCU 10/31/06) Block Assists 3 (vs. Texas Southern 9/9/06) Block Solo 1 (vs. Texas Tech 11/8/06) 2006 (JUNIOR) Started only four matches for the Sooners but played in 32... Averaged 0.48 kills per game and 0.79 digs per game... Tallied season-high nine digs against TCU (10/31)... Collected seven digs in OU s sweep of No. 12 Missouri (10/18)... Notched season-high 11 kills and three blocks against Texas Southern (9/9)... Led team to a.324 hitting percentage with seven kills while also collecting seven digs against Idaho in Sooner Legends Invitational (8/26)... Recorded seven kills and six digs in season opener against Arkansas (8/25). 2004-05 HUTCHINSON COMMMUNITY COLLEGE Rewrote the record books at Hutchinson Community College, breaking 25 school records, including nine career marks... Two-time NJCAA first team All-American... Named to the all-conference and all-region squads as a freshman and a sophomore... Became the first volleyball player at Hutchinson to earn All-America honors... Set a single season record with 731 digs in 2006... Owned a team-best 584 kills and set a single season record with 731 digs in 2006... Led the Hutchinson Lady Dragons to an eighth place finish in the NJCAA Tournament... Became the only player in HCC history to record 1,000 kills and digs in her career... Tallied 317 service aces in her two-year tenure at Hutchinson... Set a single-match record with 14 aces, including one run of 10 straight aces... Claimed Jayhawk West Freshman of the Year honors... Led team in eight statistical categories during rookie campaign Born Nov. 23, 1983... Daughter of Jose Roberto and Maria Valeria Blum... Has two brothers, Francisco (27) and Fernando (26) and one sister, Juliana (25). 10 2006 32/4 85 41 0.48 25 137.117 2 0.02 14 57 0.16 67 0.79 0 6 0.07 Players.indd 10 8/29/2007 10:26:28 AM
JULIE CHESTER SENIOR 5-10 SETTER KATY, TEXAS CINCO RANCH HS 1 Kills 4 (twice, last vs. Texas Tech 11/10/04) Total Attempts 10 (vs. Texas Tech 11/10/04) Assists 60 (vs. Texas Tech 11/10/04) Aces 4 (at Texas A&M 10/28/05) Digs 12 (vs. Colorado 10/16/04) Blocks Solo 1 (vs. Nebraska 10/9/04) Block Assists 5 (vs. Texas Tech 11/10/04) 2006 (JUNIOR) Ranks third on the OU career assists list... Saw limited playing time last season as she played behind former Sooner setter Rachel Jackson after splitting time with her as sophomore... Averaged 4.36 assists in the 14 games she played in... Often only played one or two points when subbed in for Jackson... Played in eight matches in 2006 and started one. 2005 (SOPHOMORE) Took over starting setter duties in the second half of the season... Posted a season-high 56 assists in win over Baylor (11/19)... Collected 11 digs in loss to No. 1 Nebraska (11/2)... Set career high with four aces vs. Texas A&M (10/28)... Started first match of the season against KU and tallied 27 assists in 6-2 offense (9/17). 2004 (FRESHMAN) Took over starting setter duties in the final 16 matches and averaged 14.8 assists per game during that time... Ranked 10th among Big 12 players in assists with 10.28 a game and 699 for the season... Finished the year ranked eighth in assists for conference only matches (11.07). HIGH SCHOOL One of the most accomplished prep setters in the country... Rated as the seventh best high school prospect to sign with a Big 12 school by PrepVolleyball.com... The second best setter to commit to a Big 12 school according to PrepVolleyball.com... Ranked No. 79 among national high school prospects by PrepVolleyball.com... Named to all-tournament team at 2003 USA Junior National Championships... Led Texas Tornadoes to fifth place finish at 2003 Junior Nationals... Named district MVP, as well as Pearland All-Tournament Team and Cy-Springs All-Tournament Team during senior year... Named first team all-district in 2001 and 2002, team MVP as a sophomore (2001), best offensive player as a junior (2002) and Houston Chronicle Girl To Watch (2003) during her high school career... Led Cinco Ranch to District 19-5A Championship from 2001-03. Born Feb. 18, 1986... Daughter of John and Gail Chester... Older sister, Jennifer (28), and younger brother Matthew (18)... All-Academic during each of four high school years... Interested in majoring in communications... Hometown newspapers are the Katy Times and Houston Chronicle. 2004 21/17 68 26 0.38 15 75.147 699 10.28 10 17 0.15 137 2.01 1 26 0.40 2005 26/19 82 11 0.13 15 51 -.078 611 7.45 11 24 0.13 125 1.52 0 16 0.20 2006 8/1 14 6 0.43 3 10.300 61 4.36 1 4 0.07 8 0.57 1 6 0.50 TOTALS 55/37 164 43 0.26 33 136 0.07 1,371 8.36 22 45 0.13 270 1.65 2 48 0.30 11 Players.indd 11 8/29/2007 10:26:34 AM
HANNAH SHARP SENIOR 5-10 DS/LIBERO FISHERS, N.Y. LOUISVILLE 14 Aces 3 (four times) Digs 20 (vs. Rice 9/9/05) 2006 (JUNIOR) Served as a defensive specialist in lineup... Played in 109 of OU s 123 games in 2006... Named an Academic All-Big 12 first team selection... Represented OU on CoSIDA s Academic All-District Third Team... Tied career high with three aces against Idaho (8/26)... Collected 11 digs at Texas A&M in OU s history-making win (9/13). 2005 (SOPHOMORE) One of two Sooners to post double-digit digs (12) against No. 23 Texas A&M (10/8)... Collected match-high 14 digs against top-ranked Huskers (9/28)... Tallied a team-high 11 digs against Colorado (9/24)... Added 16-dig effort against UTSA (9/11)... Led all players with 14 digs vs. Notre Dame (9/10)... Led defense with 20 digs in Rice loss... Collected 11 digs at TCU in first performance as a Sooner (8/27). 2004 (LOUISVILLE) Played in reserve role at Louisville, competing in 43 games and starting one match out of 22 played... Averaged 1.02 digs per game with 44 total... Posted lone career start in a 3-1 win over Nicholls State at the Arizona Tournament (9/9)... Recorded seven digs in first collegiate match against Virginia (9/3)... Honored with a Commissioner s Academic Medal for 2004-05... Two-time member of the Athletic Director s Honor Roll. 12 HIGH SCHOOL Led Victor Central H.S. to the 2003 Class B, New York State Championship and a 21-0 record... Earned New York State All-State first team honors and Team MVP in 2001, 2002 and 2003... Helped Victor win four straight league and sectional titles... Took gold medal honors with the Western New York Empire State Team in 2001, 2003 and 2003... A versatile athlete who played outside hitter, rightside hitter and libero while claiming all-league honors in 2000 and 2001... Picked up all-tournament honors at the Fredonia Spikefest (2001, 2002) and North Tonawanda (2002) Tournaments... Selected as MVP of the Aquinas Tournament in 2001 and 2002... Led club team, Volley FX, to East Coast Championship and NEQ Championships in 2004.. Also lettered in basketball and softball. Born October 30, 1985... Daughter of Terry and Sue Sharp. 2005 29/0 103 2 0.02 4 9 -.222 11 0.11 14 15 0.14 238 2.31 0 0 0.00 2006 31/0 109 1 0.01 3 5 -.400 34 0.31 26 43 0.24 212 1.94 0 2 0.02 TOTALS 60/0 212 3 0.01 7 14 -.286 45 0.21 40 58 0.19 450 2.12 0 2 0.01 Players.indd 12 8/29/2007 10:26:40 AM
ANNA STADEL SENIOR 6-1 MIDDLE BLOCKER OSAGE CITY, KAN. OSAGE CITY HS 3 Kills 17 (vs. Texas A&M 10/8/05) Total Attempts 27 (at Kansas 9/17/05) Hitting Percentage.667 (vs. Notre Dame 9/10/05) Digs 3 (twice) Blocks Solo 3 (at Kansas 9/17/05) Block Assists 10 (twice) 2006 (JUNIOR) Ranks second on the OU career list with 1.12 blocks per game... Also ranks third on the career solo blocks list with 35... Averaged 1.30 kills per game and 0.87 blocks per game for the Sooners in 30 games played in 2006... Tied season high with seven kills and 11 total points against North Carolina with a.462 hitting percentage. 2005 (SOPHOMORE) Averaged a.244 clip with 193 kills on 446 attempts while averaging 1.16 blocks per game... Recorded a career high of 10 block assists vs. Kansas (11/9)... Pounded a career-high 17 kills against No. 23 Texas A&M on a.536 clip (10/8)... Set a career high in hitting percentage with a.667 clip against then-no. 19 Notre Dame (9/10)... Named to Big 12 Commissioner s Honor Roll for fall and spring semesters. 2004 (FRESHMAN) Hit.231 with 103 kills on 251 attempts as a freshman and posted a.243 mark in conference play... Finished the season among the top 10 Big 12 players in blocks with 11 solos and 52 assists to average 1.19 per game... Also tallied 1.19 blocks per game during season... Received the most playing time of freshmen. HIGH SCHOOL Ranked as one of the top 250 high school prospects in the country by PrepVolleyball.com... Played club ball for KC Power... Selected by local coaches to play in the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Game... Also played club ball with Topeka Juniors and finished as high as ninth at junior nationals... Named first team all-area by Emporia Gazette... A first team All-Mideast league selection, as well as being team MVP and team captain as a senior... Also an accomplished track athlete... Won 2004 state titles in 100 and 200-meter dashes, as well as discus... Salutatorian of senior class... Second in senior class with 4.0 GPA. Born July 2, 1986... Daughter of Ken and Jean Stadel... One older brother, Luke (23), who threw the discus and shot at Rice... Father was a track and field All-American at Rice from 1972-1973 and still owns shot put and discus school records... Father finished in the top three at the 1978 World Track and Field Championships... Mother played field hockey at San Jose State, while uncle played football for the Spartans... May throw for OU s track and field team... Majoring in health and exercise sciences... Hometown newspaper is the Topeka Capital. 2004 19/12 53 103 1.94 45 251.231 3 0.06 0 0 0.00 13 0.25 11 52 1.19 2005 27/23 97 193 1.99 84 446.244 4 0.04 0 0 0.00 19 0.20 19 94 1.16 2006 16/6 30 39 1.30 19 92.217 2 0.07 0 3 0.00 1 0.03 5 21 0.87 TOTALS 62/41 180 335 1.86 148 789.237 9 0.05 0 3 0.00 33 0.18 35 167 1.12 13 Players.indd 13 8/29/2007 10:26:45 AM
SARAH WEILAND SENIOR 6-0 OUTSIDE HITTER PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS TULANE 6 Kills 22 (vs. Baylor 11/19/05) Total Attempts 45 (vs. Baylor 11/19/05) Hitting Percentage.700 (twice) Aces 9 (vs. Loyola 9/2/05) Digs 14 (vs. Missouri 11/4/05) Block Assists 8 (vs. Colorado 11/18/06) Blocks Solo 2 (vs. Colorado 9/30/06) 2006 (JUNIOR) One of two starters returning from 2006 squad... The only Sooner to start every match in 2006... Averaged 2.39 kills per game and 0.71 blocks per game... Recorded 13 doubledigit kill outings... One of three Sooners to add double-digit kills (10) against No. 4 UCLA in NCAA Regional (12/8)... Led all Sooners with a.667 hitting percentage and 11 kills against Oral Roberts in the NCAA First Round (12/1)... Also recorded career-high eight block assists against Colorado. 2005 (SOPHOMORE) OU s single season leader for most aces in a season (44)... Finished the season as the Big 12 leader in service aces per game... Averaged 2.51 kills per game and 0.70 digs in first season as a Sooner... Recorded career night against Baylor with 22 kills and seven block assists (11/19)... Garnered first double-double of OU career with 14 digs and 14 kills vs. No. 13 Missouri (11/4)... Broke the OU and Big 12 single match record after serving up nine aces against Loyola (9/2). 2004 (TULANE) A constant in the Tulane lineup, starting 22 of 29 matches and playing in 88 games... Pounded 278 kills on the season, third on the team, and posted a 3.16 per game average... Recorded team-high 38 aces during freshman season... Averaged 2.49 digs per game with a 2004 total of 219. 14 HIGH SCHOOL Three-year letterwinner at Pflugerville High for coach Lori Gray... Earned first-team All- District 14-5A honors as a senior after posting 279 kills, 250 digs, 50 aces and 81 blocks... Claimed all-tournament honors at Dripping Springs and Fossil Ridge as a senior... Named second-team all-district as a junior... Played two years for the club team Austin Juniors, led by head coach Glen Leitzke... Also lettered twice in soccer... Named Academic All-District as a senior... Member of Psychology Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Born Sarah Marie Weiland on Aug. 13, 1986, in Leicecestershire, England... Daughter of Wolfgang and Maria Weiland... Has two sisters, Elisa and Leah. 2005 29/28 103 259 2.51 165 732.128 5 0.05 45 99 0.44 99 0.96 1 48 0.48 2006 34/34 122 291 2.39 109 595.306 43 0.35 15 24 0.12 49 0.40 6 81 0.71 TOTALS 63/62 225 550 2.44 274 1327.208 48 0.21 60 123 0.27 148 0.66 7 129 0.60 Players.indd 14 8/29/2007 10:26:51 AM
LACY BARNES JUNIOR 5-8 DS/LIBERO ROSE HILL, KAN. ROSE HILL HS 5 Aces 2 (vs. Rice 9/9/05) Digs 10 (vs. Notre Dame 9/10/05) 2006 (SOPHOMORE) Primarily subbed in as a defensive specialist... Played in 41 of OU s 123 games... Averaged 1.32 digs per game as a sub... Notched a season-high nine digs in regular-season finale against Baylor (11/25). 2005 (FRESHMAN) Only freshman to start a match in 2005... Started in all three matches at the Dome Rally... One of three Sooners to post double-digit digs (10) against No. 19 Notre Dame (9/10)... Collected eight digs against Rice (9/9)... Tallied five digs in collegiate debut (9/7). High School Named to the All-Metro Volleyball team as a senior... Selected to the Ark-Valley Chisholm Trail League Division III first team in 2004... Voted to the All-State second team as a senior... Led team in digs, serve percentage and kill efficiency as a senior and junior... Also named to all-tournament teams at Ark City and Clearwater... Pounded 225 digs in 2004... Named team MVP as a senior and junior... Earned second team all-league honors in 2003... Honored as the high school s Rookie of the Year... Played on the Wichita Power 18s club team that qualified for the Junior National Championships in 2004 and took third at the Southern California Qualifier... Helped Wichita Wild West 18s club team finish in the top 10 at the Crossroad Qualifier in 2005... Also a four-year letterwinner in both basketball and track... Received basketball Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior... Collected MVP honors for Rose High basketball team as a senior... Named the 2004 and 2005 Rose Hill Track Athlete of the Year... Qualified for state four times in the triple jump, three times in the 4x100 meter relay and once in the 4 x400-meter relay and 300-meter hurdles... Named the Will To Win Athlete for high school track team as a freshman and a sophomore... Also a stellar student... Honored as a salutatorian of senior class... Member of FCA, Student Council, National Honors Society and Lettermen s Club. Personal Born August 15, 1986... Daughter of Mary and Tom Barnes... Hometown newspaper is the Rose Hill Reporter. 2005 11/3 22 0 0.00 0 0.000 3 0.14 3 2 0.14 29 1.32 0 0 0.00 2006 20/0 41 0 0.00 0 0.000 3 0.07 3 7 0.07 41 1.00 0 0 0.00 TOTALS 31/3 63 0 0.00 0 0.000 6 0.10 6 9 0.10 70 1.11 0 0 0.00 15 xx Players.indd 15 8/29/2007 10:26:58 AM
BRIDGET LAPLANTE SOPHOMORE 6-0 OUTSIDE HITTER TOMBALL, TEXAS KLEIN OAK HS 9 Kills 23 (vs. Kansas State 10/14/06) Hitting Percentage.452 (vs. Kansas 10/7/06) Aces 3 (vs. Texas Tech 11/8/06) Digs 14 (vs. Texas 10/21/06) Block Assists 6 (vs. Texas 9/27/06) Blocks Solo 1 (four times) 2006 (FRESHMAN) Only freshman to start for the Sooners... Started 28 matches in 2006... Ranked third on the squad with 3.05 kills per game... Played better during Big 12 season with 3.24 kills per game... Also ranked third on squad with 2.12 digs per game... Tallied 10 double-doubles on the season... Recorded seven straight matches with double-digit kills from Sept. 23-Oct. 14... Led Sooners with 10 kills and 11 digs against No. 4 UCLA in NCAA Regionals (12/8) )... Collected career-and season-high 14 digs against No. 9 Texas (10/21)... Tallied a career - high 23 kills in win versus Kansas State (10/14)... Notched first career double-double with 20 kills and 12 digs in OU s win over No. 8 Texas (9/27)... Also set career high with six block assists against Longhorns. KLEIN OAK HIGH SCHOOL A four-year starter at Klein Oak High School... Coached by Christy Mewis... Led high school squad to two consecutive district championships... 2005 All-State selection... Named the All-Greater Houston Player of the Year... Selected by PrepVolleyball.com as a High School All-American... 2005 Texas State All-Tournament team member... Three-time all-district selection... Klein Oak team captain... Selected as her team s MVP during sophomore, junior and senior seasons... Two-time district MVP (2004, 2005)... Led all of class 5A in the state of Texas in kills in 2005... Member of the 2004 Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State squad... Played club ball for the Texas Tornados, coached by Tara Cross-Battle... 2004-05 team captain for the Texas Tornados... One of 10 players on Texas Tornados who signed with NCAA Division I volleyball teams in 2006... Named to the Houston Chronicle Greater Houston first team in 2004... Two-time Houston Chronicle Player of the Week during junior and senior campaigns. 16 Daughter of Greg and Brenda Laplante... One older sister, Christina (26), and one older brother, Andrew (22)... Outstanding student who graduated in top five percent of her class... Born March 18, 1988. 2006 33/28 113 345 3.05 146 954.209 12 0.11 13 30 0.12 240 2.12 5 46 0.45 Players.indd 16 8/29/2007 10:27:04 AM
FRANCIE EKWEREKWU RS-FRESHMAN 5-11 MIDDLE BLOCKER ARLINGTON, TEXAS ARLINGTON HS 11 2006 Redshirted HIGH SCHOOL Listed on PrepVolleyball.com s Senior Ace List... Two-time district Co-Blocker of the Year as a sophomore and junior... Named First Team All-District 7-5A in 2003 and 2004... Only member of high school team to play in all 117 games during senior campaign... Led her team in blocks in 2005 with a 0.90 per game average... Recorded 2.1 kills per game while hitting at a.441 clip as a senior... Guided Arlington High School to a 32-9 record in 2005... Selected as squad s Most Improved Player and team captain in 2004... Named a Fort Worth Star-Telegram Player to Watch in 2005... Competed on the Texas Advantage 17 Asics club team that finished second at 2005 Lonestar Tournament...Also competed for the basketball and track teams...two-time all-district selection in basketball... Selected as the basketball team MVP as a sophomore and a junior... 2004 5A regional finalist in triple jump. Daughter of Robin Lake... Older brother, Brad, was a wide receiver at the University of Missouri and now plays in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs... Involved in Key Club, National Honor Society and the American Sign Language Club... Born April 10, 1988. 17 Players.indd 17 8/29/2007 10:27:07 AM
the NEWCOMERS JACKIE FOTU SOPHOMORE-TR 6-1 OUTSIDE HITTER ALPINE, UTAH COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO 17 2006 (COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO) Started at middle blocker as a freshman for the College of Southern Idaho... Led CSI to a 29-14 overall record... Played in every match of the season and only missed one game out of 107... Collected 0.75 digs per game and 0.53 blocks per game. TAYLOR HARBSTER SOPHOMORE-TR 5-9 DS/LIBERO GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ST. 15 2006 (SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY) Saw action in all 33 matches and made 18 starts as a defensive specialist as a true freshman... Ranked third on the team with 287 digs... Averaged 2.67 digs per game... Recorded double-digit digs in 14 matches... Ranked second on the team with 17 service aces... Selected to the all-tournament team at Memphis Invitational Tournament. xx LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL Named one of the top 100 seniors in the country by PrepVolleyball.com... Led Lone Peak High School to Class 5A state championship and a runner-up finish in 2005... Guided her high school to state championships as a junior and a sophomore... Selected as Lone Peak High Schools Best All-Around Player of the Year... Honored as first team All-State and all-region as a junior... Named to the state all-tournament team as a junior... Honored as Lone Peak s Offensive Player of the Year in 2004... Two-time member of the USA- Intermountain Region youth team... Invited to USA Volleyball s development camp as a junior... Earned High School Blocker of the Year honors as a sophomore. Born Oct. 11, 1988... Daughter of Manase and Lisa Fotu... Has three sisters, Selu (17), Kerstin (7) and Olivia (1 month) and eight brothers, Garrett (15), Jacob (13), Isaac (11), Lennon (9), Jared (5), Spencer (3), Connor (1)... Father played football for Montana State University. SAMANTHA ARRIARAN FRESHMAN 5-10 SETTER NORCO, CALIF. NORCO HS SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL Led team to consecutive state playoff appearances... Three-time all-district selection... 2004 district Defensive Player of the Year... Led the team in kills, digs, and aces in 2004 and 2005... Team MVP in 2004 and 2005... Four-year letterwinner at South Grand Prairie High School... Named the Dallas Morning News Athlete of the Week six times... Earned varsity Newcomer of the Year award as a freshman... Member of the Texas Advantage Volleyball Club... Club team competed at the Junior Olympics Nationals in 2004-06... Selected to the North Texas USA HP Youth Team... Led team to fourth place finish at the USA HP Youth Championships... Invited to the 2004 USA High Performance Youth Camp (L). 2005 Great Texas Scholar... Named Who s Who Among High School Students. Daughter of Rick and Cynthia Harbster... Has one sister, Lauren (22), and a brother, Josh (30)... Born June 28, 1988. MEGAN BESS FRESHMAN 6-0 OUTSIDE HITTER FARMINGTON, MO. FARMINGTON HS 10 4 18 NORCO HIGH SCHOOL Considered one of the top setters in the 2007 class... Selected as one of PrepVolleyball. com s Senior Aces... Led Norco to the playoffs with a 20-1-2 regular season record... Averaged 19 assists per match during regular season of senior campaign... Assists per match ranked third among all setters in the Mountain View League in California... Threetime All-Mountain View League selection... Guided Norco High School to two straight league championships, including a perfect 12-0 record during senior campaign... Named to the CIF Southern Section first team as a junior... Played club volleyball for Vintage under head coach Dennis Palpallatoc... Led Vintage to a first place finish in the 2005 National Club Volleyball Tournament in Reno, Nev.... One of three players on the Vintage club team playing for a Division I school this fall. Daughter of Jim and Alexa Arriaran...Has three sisters, Briana (24), Natasia (23), Erika (19) and brother, Joe (15)... Sister Erika is a junior on the basketball team at the University of Texas... Other sister, Natasia, played basketball at Cal Baptist University... Father played football for the University of Oregon... Born Oct. 13, 1989. FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Four-year starter at Farmington High School... Led Farmington High to four straight conference and district championships... Three-time all-conference selection... Collected first team all-district and all-region honors during sophomore, junior and senior years... Earned All-State honors as a senior and a junior... Led the metro area in kills per game (5.81) in 2005... Named a 2005 AAU All-American for club volleyball... Led the Show Me Elite, coached by Shane Allen, to a top-10 finish at the AAU Tournament in 2005... Played club volleyball the last two years for Team Missouri, coached by Carrie Steel... Guided Team Missouri to a third-place finish at Nationals... Also a standout track athlete... Three-time all-conference selection in the 100-meter hurdles... Two-time all-conference selection in discus... Placed fourth in hurdles at the state track meet her senior year... Qualified for the state track meet in hurdles and discus as a sophomore... Participated in 2005 state track meet in hurdles... Earned FHS Best Hurdler Award in 2004... Selected as the FHS Track MVP as a junior... Also lettered in basketball as a freshman. Daughter of Bill and Donna Bess... Sister, Natalie (21) played basketball for McKendree College in 2004... Father, Bill, played football for the University of Missouri (1975-1979)... Chose Oklahoma over Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri State and South Carolina... Born March 31, 1989. Players.indd 18 8/29/2007 10:27:14 AM
BRITTANY BULLARD FRESHMAN 5-4 DS/LIBERO AMARILLO, TEXAS AMARILLO HS 2 CHRISSY DISARRO FRESHMAN 6-1 MIDDLE BLOCKER PLANO, TEXAS PLANO EAST HS 12 AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL Had standout senior season at Amarillo High School where she led the Sandies to the 5A state title and a 45-1 record... Played two varsity seasons at Amarillo High School, the most successful high school volleyball program in Texas 5A history... High school team was named the year s Super Team by the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame for its outstanding 2007 season... Named a high school All-American by PrepVolleyball.com... Also collected high school All-America honors from American Volleyball Coaches Association... 2007 Texas Sportswriters Association first team All-State selection... Earned district Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior... Named to the 5A State Championship All-Tournament team... Named to Amarillo Globe s Volleyball Super Team... Selected to the Texas All-Stars following senior campaign... Played club volleyball for Texas Advantage 18-Asics squad that earned a national bid after taking first place in the North Texas Regional Qualifier. Daughter of Jack and Debbie Bullard... Has two brothers, Mark (34) and Brent (27), and a sister, Tammy (35)... Brent played baseball at West Texas A&M... Born May 13, 1989. PLANO EAST HIGH SCHOOL Three-time letter winner at Plano East High School under head coach Marcy Crabtree, a former All-Big Eight player at Oklahoma... Selected by PrepVolleyball.com as a Senior Ace...Led team during 2006 regular season in hitting percentage (.416), aces (42), blocks per game (1.13) and kills per game (3.75)... Captain of Plano East volleyball team as a junior and a senior... 2006 All-State selection... Named first team all-district and also selected as Outstanding Hitter of the district... Earned all-tournament honors at the Jenny Eckert Memorial Tournament as a senior... Recognized as the 2005 Outstanding Blocker for District 8-5A... Named the Outstanding Offensive Player for Plano East as a junior... Selected to the 2005 first team all-district squad... Led team to the 2004 Bi-District title and area finals... Earned Most Improved Player of the Year Award in 2004... Named second team all-district as a sophomore... Played club volleyball for Victory under head coach Ryan Mitchell... Guided Victory to a 10th place finish at 2007 nationals. Daughter of John and Janet Disarro... Has two brothers, Nathan (23) and John (26)... Born Aug. 8, 1989. SARAH MACHEN FRESHMAN 6-1 MIDDLE BLOCKER MOBILE, ALA. MCGILL-TOOLEN HS 8 JASMINE POWELL FRESHMAN 5-9 OUTSIDE HITTER NORMAN, OKLA. NORMAN NORTH HS 7 19 xx MCGILL-TOOLEN HIGH SCHOOL Led McGill-Toolen High School to two state championships and a runner-up finish in three years of varsity play... Two-year captain on McGill-Toolen squad that was coached by Gretchen Speed and ranked No. 44 in the country... Selected as one of PrepVolleyball. com s Senior Aces... Two-time Alabama All-State selection... Named to Mobile Register s Super 12 first team as a senior... Named to the all-area and all-county first teams for three straight seasons... Selected as the South s MVP in the All-Star Classic... Played club volleyball for Club Bomba under head coaches Amber and Jon Campbell... Also an outstanding student who was named to the President s List all four year of high school career... Graduated in the top four percent of her senior class... Nominated for the Wendy s High School Heisman Award. Daughter of Chris and Johanna Machen...Has three brothers, Michael (25), Bryan (23) and Brett (16)... Brother, Michael, is currently a quarterback at Baylor and played three years of minor league baseball with the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles organizations... Chose Oklahoma over the University of Alabama... Born Feb. 25, 1989. NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL 2006 All-State Selection... Four-Year varsity starter and captain at Norman North High School... Named squad s 2006 MVP... Honored as 2005 and 2006 Offensive Player of the Year...2006 Daily Oklahoman All-City second team selection... Led the Timberwolves to back-to-back appearances in the 6A State Tournament in 2004 and 2005... Guided Norman North to conference championships as a sophomore and a junior... 2005 6A regional champions... Earned four Tournament all-tournament honors as a junior... Selected to Daily Oklahoman s All-City honorable mention team... Named MVP of University of Nebraska team camp in 2005... 2005 Norman Transcript Athlete of the Month... Picked up four all-tournament honors as a sophomore... Named Norman North s Most Improved Player in 2004... Played club volleyball for Oklahoma Peak Performance... Led Peak Performance to 2005 and 2006 Nationals and two straight regional championships. Daughter of John and Candeh Powell... Has one brother, Jordan (17)... Born March 28, 1989. 19 Players.indd 19 8/29/2007 10:27:15 AM
WHY OKLAHOMA? I chose to go to OU because the school has so much to offer as well as so much tradition. The people have been so welcoming and the education is one of the best around. Lastly, the volleyball team is improving every year. Coach Restrepo and the players have the same passion and winning mentality that I do for volleyball. -Freshman Sarah Machen Growing up in Norman, I have been a Sooner all of my life. It is so exciting to be a part of the team and to now be a part of the OU spirit that surrounds the university. -Freshman Jasmine Powell Coach showed a great interest in me when he was recruiting me and I loved how he coached his team. I committed when I was young because I knew this was where I wanted to be. -Freshman Samantha Arriaran I wanted to play for Oklahoma because of Coach Restrepo s good reputation and strong passion for the game. He knows how to be serious and to have fun at the same time while creating a positive atmosphere. -Freshman Chrissy Dissarro I came here because I wanted to play for Coach Restrepo and I know that if I work hard and give it 100 percent every day, he will make me the best player I can be. He will push me harder every day and I know that I will succeed. -Freshman Megan Bess OU has a great academic and athletic program with a great environment. I came to Oklahoma because I loved the feeling that the people at OU and in Norman gave me. -Sophomore Transfer Jackie Fotu I came to OU because I wanted to play for Coach Restrepo because he has great drive and passion for the game. I knew with my dedication and heart that he could make me the best player I could be. -Sophomore Transfer Taylor Harbster I was so impressed with the strong tradition at OU and the pride people have to be a part of the University of Oklahoma. That really motivates me as an athlete to do my very best and represent Oklahoma in the best way possible. -Freshman Brittany Bullard 20 Players.indd 20 8/29/2007 10:27:16 AM