Weekly Schedule:
@ Washburn Lady Blues Fall Classic (Topeka, Kan.)
Friday, Sept. 30 – vs. #20 Angelo (Texas) State, 11:30 am; vs. Tarleton (Texas) State, 4:30 pm
Saturday, Oct. 1 – vs. Central Oklahoma, 11:00 am; vs. Abilene Christian (Texas), 3:00 pm
Full Notes (PDF)
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Looking to bounce back from an 0-2 road trip last weekend, the Truman volleyball team steps out of conference play for four regional matches this Friday and Saturday at Washburn's 2011 Fall Classic.
The Bulldogs (6-5) will face No. 20 Angelo (Texas) State (15-1) and Tarleton (Texas) State (9-5) on Friday before turning around and facing Central Oklahoma (9-6) and Abilene Christian (Texas) (8-7) on Saturday. Three of the matches are against schools from the Lone Star Conference while the fourth, UCO, is against a regional independent who is transitioning into the MIAA.
Last weekend, Truman fell 3-0 at then-No. 6 Washburn on Friday night before dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon. After holding close against the Lady Blues on Friday night, getting a match-high nine kills from junior OH Heather Hargadine, the Bulldogs played nearly dead-even with the upstart Tigers on Saturday, falling 15-11 in the final set. Junior MH Megan Sharpe led all players with 16 kills, while senior OH Molly Sinclair and freshman OH Allie Brak added double-doubles.
Truman heads back to Topeka, Kan., this weekend for the four-match regional crossover, an event in which the Bulldogs have experienced high levels of success (15-1 record) in the four years of the tournament. Last season, the Bulldogs faced three of the foes they'll see again this weekend, picking up five-set victories against ASU, TSU and ACU. Replacing St. Edward's (Texas) on the docket this year is UCO.
Sharpe continues to be the top offensive weapon in head coach Ben Briney's arsenal, as the two-time all-American is hitting. 317 with 2.94 kills per set, with 0.94 blocks per set defensively. The 'Dogs are blocking 2.03 attacks per set and are hitting .194 as a unit on the season. Brak (2.65 k/s), Sinclair (2.10 k/s) and junior MH Emily Briseno (2.11 k/s) are also among the team's top producers. Senior Kylie Easlon (5.19 assists/set) and freshman Meghan Zimmerman (4.00 a/s) continue to handle setting duties, while freshman DS Abby Moser (5.73 digs/set) continues to be the MIAA's best back row defender.
Following the Bulldogs:
Full coverage of Truman volleyball is available online at TrumanBulldogs.com, including results, upcoming game information and weekly updates.
When available, links to free online live stats are added to the Bulldog volleyball schedule page as well as the top of each weekly update.
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Previewing the Classic:
Nine of the South Central region's top programs will converge in the Sunflower State's capital this weekend for the fifth annual “Lady Blues Fall Classic”. Truman will be joined by Emporia State, Southwest Baptist and Washburn in representing the MIAA against Lone Star Conference teams ACU, ASU and TSU, Heartland program Dallas Baptist, and independent UCO. Nebraska-Omaha, a former member of the MIAA, is also in the field, representing the Summit League in Division I.
The Bulldogs will open the weekend at 11:30 am on Friday against No. 20 Angelo State, who is off to a 15-1 start in 2011. The Rambelles kicked off the year with 15 straight wins, including victories against Bulldog opponents Missouri Western, Incarnate Word, Tarleton State and Texas A&M-International before falling in five sets last Saturday to West Texas A&M at home. As a team, ASU is hitting .231 and holding opponents to a .092 mark behind five different players above 2.25 kills/set on the year. Chelsea Gibson (2.80 k/s; .273) and Celeste Bonter (2.60 k/s; .217) have the top two total kills marks for a unit that serves aggressively as well, totaling 75 (1.32/set) already this year.
Chuck Waddington is in his fourth season with the program. Truman holds a 4-2 all-time series lead, including a 3-2 win in Topeka last season.
Following the Angelo match, Truman will take on another “TSU”, this time in the form of Tarleton State at 4:30 pm. The TexAnns enter the weekend with a 9-5 overall mark having secured wins against Truman opponents Texas A&M-International and Midwestern State but falling to Angelo State. Tarleton downed WTAMU, 3-2, on Sept. 17, snapping the Lady Buffs' 87-match LSC winning streak. Flynn Harrell (3.41 k/s, .207) and Nikki McNorton (2.48 k/s, .261) are the top offensive weapons for a team hitting .167 on the year.
Mary Schindler is in her seventh season at TSU. Truman holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 3-2 win in Topeka last season.
On Saturday, Truman opens with future-MIAA member Central Oklahoma at 11:00 am. The Bronchos, who start MIAA play next season, are 9-6 on the season with wins against TSU opponents Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist and losses to Colorado Mines, Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays and Arkansas-Fort Smith. They are hitting .160 as a team behind Alex Richardson's 3.62 kills/set and .188 hitting percentage. Only one player is currently hitting better than .200 on the year.
Jeff Boyland is in his ninth season at UCO. Truman holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-times series, including a 3-0 win on Sept 12, 2009, in Edmond, Okla.
Finally, the Bulldogs will look to exact revenge against the Wildcats of ACU, after the squad dealt Truman a first-round NCAA tournament loss a year ago. The team is out to an 8-7 start this season, with wins against TSU opponents Texas A&M-International and Incarnate Word, while also picking up a loss to UIW just a week later. Jennie Hutt is averaging 3.92 kills/set and hitting .273,w while Sara Oxford is the team's top hitter at .278 (2.61 k/s).
Kellen Mock is in her sixth season at ACU. Truman holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series, including a split last season.
Road Blues:
A trip to a neutral-site might be just what the doctor ordered for the Bulldogs this weekend, as the team is off to an 0-3 start in true road contests this season. The squad is 5-2 in neutral-site affairs and 1-0 at home so far in 2011.
Middle Blockers Living Up to Name:
Junior Megan Sharpe is up to 260 career blocks, sliding her into a tie with former Bulldog Melissa Keck (2005-08) for 10th all-time in Truman history. In addition, she sits just four back of teammate Emily Briseno, who holds the 10th place all-time spot in solo blocks with 58. Both are chasing former 'Dog Lisa Weber, who put down 67 solo blocks in her three years (2006-08) at Truman.
Moser Sets Program Record:
In each of the first three weeks to start the 2011 season, freshman Abby Moser was named the MIAA Volleyball Specialist of the Week. No player in Truman program history had received the conference's weekly honor three consecutive times prior to that point.
She also became the first Bulldog libero to win the award three times in one season and trails Rachel Shedd by two for the most all-time in a single-season by any Bulldog. Shedd was named Specialist of the Week five times in 2003.
She is averaging 5.73 digs per set through the first 11 matches of 2011.
Will Dig for Points:
Truman is the top MIAA team in digs through the first three weeks, averaging 18.69 per set. That's also good for a top-15 national ranking.
Continuing the Tradition:
The Bulldogs rank 15th in Div. II?history in all-time appearances in the top-25 (156) and are tied for ninth all-time for times ranked in the top-10 (97). Since the year 2000, the 'Dogs have posted eight 30+ win seasons, a postseason appearance each season, two trips to the national championship match and seven MIAA?championships.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs jump back into conference play for the remainder of the season with three matches next week, starting on Wednesday, Oct. 5 with a home tussle against No. 7 Central Missouri at 7:00 pm in Pershing Arena. The squad then heads to Northwest Missouri on Oct. 7 before returning home on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a homecoming night battle with Missouri Western at 7:00 pm.
