The OU volleyball team begins its quest toward another NCAA Tournament birth today, hosting the two-day Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational at Howard McCasland Field House and welcoming a trio of teams that are coming off their own postseason tournament appearances.

The Sooners open their season at 10 a.m. against the Michigan State Spartans and square off versus the Wichita State Shockers at 8 p.m. Admission is free to all tournament games and the first 250 fans to attend Friday’s action will receive an OU volleyball rally towel.

Also partaking in the tournament festivities will be the two-time defending Big West champion Cal Poly Mustangs, who are currently ranked 10th in the nation according to the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 poll. The Sooners meet the Mustangs to close out the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. The first 500 people in attendance for Saturday’s match will receive an OU volleyball schedule magnet.

These first three matches commence what is arguably the Sooners toughest non-conference schedule in years, and according to fifth-year head coach Santiago Restrepo, opening the season in a potentially difficult fashion is no accident.

“I want it to be a situation where the freshmen are going to know how it’s going to be and the ins and outs when playing for this program,” Restrepo said. “I wanted to get their feet wet on the first day of competition because I know how that’s how it’s going to be in the conference.”

The Spartans and the Mustangs are coming off Sweet 16 appearances in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, while the Shockers advanced to the second round of postseason play. Like the Sooners, who received 15 votes in the Top 25 poll, Michigan State and Wichita State notched several votes as well (80 and 14 respectively).

Preseason play ended last weekend, as the Sooner women squared off in its annual Crimson and Cream scrimmage. Despite being the first time in front of a college-style crowd for many of the team’s freshmen, Restrepo said the overall impressions from the scrimmage were positive and a good sign heading into the season opener.

“The first game had a few jitters, but that’s normal,” Restrepo said. “After that, they settled in, went and played games that were extremely competitive between both teams. Overall, it was pretty good.”

While the weekend’s starting lineup is still up in the air, Restrepo said the only sure thing is that the team will roll out a freshman setter – a nod that could go the way of either Kylie Cowan or 2007 Andi Collins Award winner Brianne Barker.

Despite facing three of the more potent teams in the nation, Restrepo doesn’t expect the caliber of competition to affect this squad mentally and said they’re all just eager to get the 2008 season underway, him included.

“After preseason, you’re just very anxious about starting and I’m sure the players are too,” Restrepo said. “It’s all excitement and just getting ready to put on a show out there…make sure you come and support our volleyball team. You’re going to see incredible things from our youngsters and returners.”