The OU volleyball team will face a challenging 2006 season with new recruits and improved skills in hopes of a better year.

The team will go into 2006 after a 7-22 overall and 2-18 conference record in 2005.

"We're looking to take it one match at a time this year and not think about anything else and see if we work that way better," coach Santiago Restrepo said.

The team will start the season with three newcomers, all of whom Restrepo said will help the team significantly.

Francie Ekwerekwu, a freshman middle blocker from Arlington, Texas, "has tremendous eyes and very good force at the net," Restrepo said. Ekwerekwu was named First Team All-District 7-5A in 2003 and 2004 and led her Arlington High School team in blocks in 2005 with a 0.90 per game average.

Bridget Laplante, a freshman outside hitter from Houston, Texas, led all of class 5A in Texas in kills in 2005 and was named district MVP twice. Restrepo said Laplante's attitude will contribute to the team.

OU Volleyball Teamo Sooner Legends Nike Invitational Tournament is set for Aug. 25 and 26 against Arkansas, Idaho and North Carolina.o The team finished the 2005 season with a 7-22 overall record and a 2-18 conference record.o For more information, visit the volleyball section of soonersports.com

"She is a tremendous competitor and she works extremely hard. [She is] a very good leader for the team that she plays for," Restrepo said. "Those are some great qualities that our team needs."

Also new this year is Mariana Blum, a junior outside hitter transfer from San Bernardo, Brazil. Blum broke 25 school records at Hutchinson Community College, including nine career marks. She was the only volleyball player at HCC to earn All-American honors.

Restrepo said the additions to the team bode well for the fall.

"They will give us some depth on the roster, which will make it a lot easier to compete," Restrepo said.

The Sooners begin the 2006 season Aug. 25 with their first home tournament since 1999. The two-day Sooner Legends Nike Invitational takes place at the Howard McCasland Field House.

Restrepo said the tournament will set the bar high early with tough competition.

"We have people that are coming that have been in the NCAA tournament year in and year out, so that is going to be a great competition, and a great atmosphere for our fans to come and watch," he said.

Restrepo said the challenges of the 2005 season brought improvements to the team.

"We finished our spring season on a very high note -- we improved our ability to score, our ability to serve, we make it a lot tougher," Restrepo said. "I'm very pleased to see how we have improved and pleased to see how it works in the fall."
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