October 25, 2010
Full Notes (PDF)
After securing the 21st consecutive 20-win season in program history last week, the 11th-ranked Truman volleyball squad returns to action with three matches to close out October. The Bulldogs (21-4, 10-3 MIAA) travel to Southwest Baptist on Tuesday before hosting Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State this weekend in Pershing Arena.
The Bulldogs will go for season sweeps of all three opponents this week and will start by closing a three-match road trip in Bolivar against SBU. The Bearcats (8-16, 3-9) are 2-4 inside the Meyers Sports Center this season and nearly knocked off the 'Dogs last season at home.
Then, Truman returns to Kirksville for a pair of matches this weekend, starting on Friday night at 7 pm against Missouri Southern. The Bulldogs and Lions (14-10, 4-8 MIAA) played to a 3-1 Bulldog win back in September in Joplin.
Following the MSSU match, the Bulldogs will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday evening when Pittsburg State visits Pershing Arena at 6 pm. Truman fell behind two sets to none against the Gorillas (10-14, 3-9 MIAA) earlier this season but rebounded to take the final three sets and hand PSU a 3-2 defeat. Pittsburg State has been on the wrong side of tight matches most of the season, having dropped five 5-set contests.
Following Along This Week:
Live stats for all three matches will be available this week, and a link to each will be provided on the Bulldog volleyball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com.
Pay-per-view live online video will also be available for all three matches through the MIAA's online provider – AmericaOne/B2 Networks. Also, on Friday night, live audio of Truman's match against Missouri Southern will be available through Truman's student radio station, KTRM 88.7 FM. Links to both audio and video broadcasts will be provided on the Bulldog volleyball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com.
Bulldog Coaching Staff:
Ben Briney in is his second season as the head coach of the Truman volleyball program and is now in his sixth season overall at the University after serving as the program's top assistant from 2005-2008. He is the ninth head coach in program history and has a 45-16 career record.
In his first season as head coach, the Bulldogs maintained a top-25 ranking throughout the season, extending the consecutive-week streak to 140 for the program. The squad won 24 games and reached the NCAA tournament for the tenth time in program history. He had five players named all-MIAA, headlined by freshman Megan Sharpe, who garnered National Freshman of the Year accolades as well as first-team all-region status.
During his tenure as an assistant, the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament in all four seasons, won two South Central regional championships and advanced to the national semifinals one time (2008). He helped coach six different players to 11 combined AVCA all-American awards, saw two players win the MIAA's MVP award and led the team to its first No. 1 ranking in the AVCA top-25 coaches poll in school history.
He is assisted by Megan Wargo, who is also in her second season at Truman after spending four years as the assistant coach at Lees-McRae (N.C.).
AVCA Poll Update:
The Bulldogs stayed in the No. 11 spot following last week's 2-1 record. Four MIAA teams stayed in a top-25 that saw little shifting, as Washburn slid four spots to No. 6, and the trio of Central Missouri (No. 7), Truman and Emporia State (No. 12) all stayed in place.
Regional Update:
Last week marked the beginning of the NCAA's weekly release of the Division II regional rankings, announced each Wednesday through the remainder of the regular season. The Bulldogs were seeded second through matches of Oct. 17 and were one of six MIAA teams in the top-seven of the regional poll.
The top eight teams from three conferences in the South Central region will qualify for the postseason, which begins on Nov. 18. Conference champions from the MIAA, Lone Star and Heartland conferences receive automatic berths, leaving five at-large positions for the remaining programs. Teams must be .500 or above to be eligible for the postseason.
Central Missouri (No. 1), Washburn (No. 3), Emporia State (No. 4), Northwest Missouri (No. 6) and Nebraska-Omaha (No. 7) joined Truman as MIAA representatives in the poll, while Abilene Christian (No. 5), Angelo State (No. 8), West Texas A&M (No. 9) and Central Oklahoma (No. 10) represented the LSC. No Heartland team was listed in the top-ten.
Quick Sets:
- The Bulldogs were selected to the AVCA coaches' top-25 poll for the 149h straight week, dating back to 2000, when they came in at No. 11 in this week's poll. The next poll comes out on Monday, Nov. 1.
- Truman has often been able to avoid getting blown out in sets this season, going 42-20 in sets that have a five-point or greater spread at conclusion.
- The Bulldogs lead the MIAA in team serving this season, averaging 1.65 aces per set. That dealing has been shared across the squad, as eight different players have led (or co-led) the 'Dogs in service aces in a match this year.
It Just Seems So Easy:
The Bulldogs are 19-0 this season when hitting for a higher percentage and recording more kills, and are 15-0 when digging more balls, than their opponents this season.
Killer B's:
Emily Briseno and Casey Bruno were Truman's nominees for MIAA Athletes of the Week for their play against Emporia State, Washburn and Fort Hays last week .
Briseno averaged 2.45 kills and 1.48 blocks per set – while hitting .353 – and Bruno added 5.82 digs per set against two top-15 teams and FHSU.
Also, Briseno topped 300 career kills for the week, while Bruno notched her second career 30+ dig performance.
Milestone Watch:
- Senior Ashley Petak passed the 1,250 dig mark against Fort Hays State on Saturday and is just 16 digs away from cracking Truman's all-time top-10 (Brenda Ippensen – 1,273; 1998-2001).
- Petak is also moving up the charts on two other similar lists: matches and sets played. She is eighth in matches played (145) and sixth in sets played (526) at this point and is on line to move into sixth in matches played following this week of action.
- Junior Kylie Easlon moved into Truman's all-time top-10 in assists, past Amanda Holliday, and now has 1,156 for her career. She needs 63 more to pass Theresa Huff (1,218; 1992) for ninth all-time.
- Sophomore Allyson Stellmach passed 100 career kills last week and is now at 108 for her career.
- Sophomore Heather Hargadine needs two kills to reach 250 for her career.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will have just four matches left in the regular season after this week and will knock off two more next week when they host conference-leader Central Missouri on Wed,. Nov. 3 before traveling to Nebraska-Omaha on Sat., Nov. 6.
