(TOPEKA, Kan.) – A pair of five-set victories for the 12^th-ranked Truman volleyball team completed a perfect 4-0 weekend at the Washburn (Kan.) Lady Blues Crossover, marking the best start for the program since 2006.

 

Truman handed Heartland-conference member St. Edward's (Texas) University a 3-2 setback (-20, 18-25, 19-25, -22, 15-10) on Saturday morning before winning a battle of tournament unbeatens, 3-2 (18-25, -13, -15, 24-26, 15-9), in the nightcap against Abilene Christian (Texas).

 

Four Bulldogs recorded double-figure kills in the opener, with senior Allison Barker's 16 pacing the 'Dogs in the victory. She was also one of three players to record a double-double, tacking on 11 digs, with both of Truman's setters – senior Ashley Petak (Omaha, Neb., Bellevue West) and junior Kylie Easlon (Edmond, Okla., Edmond Santa Fe) – picking up assist-dig double-doubles.

 

Truman jumped out quickly against SEU, winning the opening set behind 19 team kills, before the Hilltoppers (7-9) took sets two and three to put the Bulldogs back against the wall. But the Bulldogs took the fourth frame by a 25-22 decision before holding SEU to a -.100 mark in the final set to pick up the victory.

 

The Bulldogs then dominated every statistical category in shutting down a red-hot ACU Wildcat squad in the tourney finale, outhitting Abilene .280-.117 and out-blocking the Lone Star's top swatters, 10-7.

 

Barker (Racine, Wis., Racine Lutheran) put away 16 more kills, while sophomore Megan Sharpe (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) tacked on 15 kills and a .481 attack percentage. Petak notched her second double-double of the day, putting up 24 assists and 17 digs, while senior libero Casey Bruno (Pearland, Texas, Lutheran South) recorded a match-high 26 digs.

 

ACU (13-3) came out and put Truman behind early, but the Bulldogs cruised to wins in the second and third sets. Abilene won the fourth set in overtime, taking a 26-24 decision, but the Bulldogs stepped up the defense for a second straight match in the final set, holding ACU to a -.038 mark for the 15-9 set win.

 

Barker closed the weekend with 56 total kills (3.11 per set) and 48 digs, while Sharpe finished right behind her offensively with 50 putaways while hitting .472.

 

Truman will travel to No. 9 Central Missouri (15-3, 6-1 MIAA) on Wednesday night for its fourth top-15 matchup of the season. The Bulldogs are 2-1 in those matches this season, including a road win at then-No. 5 Indianapolis in the season's opening weekend.