Full Notes (PDF)

 

(KIRKSVILLE) – It's all MIAA play for the 10^th-ranked Truman volleyball team the rest of the way, and a challenging schedule awaits this week, as the Bulldogs take on two squads that reached last season's NCAA tournament.

 

A top-10 battle will take place in Warrensburg, Mo., on Wednesday night, as the Bulldogs travel to take on the No. 8 Central Missouri Jennies at 7 pm. Then, Truman returns to Pershing Arena for the first time in nearly three weeks for a 4 pm match against Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.

 

Truman enters the week riding a nine-match winning streak, which includes last weekend's perfect 4-0 sweep at the Washburn Lady Blues Crossover tournament. The Bulldogs went the distance in three of the four matches played but were able to earn critical regional wins against opponents from the Lone Star and Heartland conferences.

 

Ranked eighth in the nation, UCM brings a 15-3 overall (6-1 MIAA) record into Wednesday night's battle for first place in the conference, while UNO starts the week 12-6 overall (2-4 MIAA) and will play both Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western prior to visiting Kirksville.

 

Central Missouri will provide free live stats and pay-per-view live online video through America One/B2 network for Wednesday night's match.

 

The Truman Sports Information office will also provide free live stats through Sidearm Sports and pay-per-view online video through America One/B2 network for Saturday afternoon's contest.

 

Links to all live stat and live video feeds will be provided on the volleyball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com

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 40-15 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.).

 

The Bulldog volleyball squad jumped back into the AVCA Coaches' Poll's top-10 for the first time since the 2009 preseason on Monday (Oct. 4), when the 'Dogs were ranked 10^th after a 4-0 weekend at the Washburn Crossover.

 

Truman moved up two spots past Lewis (Ill.) and MIAA-member Emporia State and became the third MIAA program in the top ten, joining Washburn (No. 6) and Central Missouri (No. 8). Emporia State fell from 11to 15 this week.

 

Six of Truman's 2010 opponents are currently ranked, with the three aforementioned schools leading two GLVC programs (Indianapolis, 19^th; Missouri-St. Louis, 20^th) and Lone Star program Abilene Christian, who debuted this week at No. 21. The Bulldogs defeated ACU, 3-2, to close out the WU Crossover on Saturday afternoon.

 

- The Bulldogs were selected to the AVCA coaches' top-25 poll for the 146^th straight week, dating back to 2000, when they came in at No. 10 in this week's poll. The next poll comes out on Monday, Oct. 11.

- Truman has often been able to avoid getting blown out in sets this season, going 32-10 in sets that have a five point or greater spread at conclusion.

- In the past seven matches (two weeks), senior Allison Barker has led the Bulldog offense – averaging 3.00 kills per set and hitting.306. Sophomore Megan Sharpe has been nearly just as good, averaging 2.61 kills/set and hitting .376.

 

- Senior Allison Barker passed the 500-kill mark last weekend (now at 512), and junior Kylie Easlon moved past 1,000 assists for her career (now at 1,044). Sophomore Emily Briseno also surpassed the 250-kill mark (now at 255).

- Senior libero Casey Bruno (956) needs 44 digs to reach 1,000 for her career.

- Sophomore Heather Hargadine (229) needs 21 kills to reach 250 for her career.

- Sophomores Lauren Radix (87) and Allyson Stellmach (77) need 13 and 23 kills respectively to reach 100 for their careers.

 

- Team Offense: 13.24 kills/set; .240 atk pct; 1.67 aces/set

- Team Defense: 15.90 digs/set; 2.20 blocks/set

 

- Top Offense: Megan Sharpe (2.85 kills/set, .382 atk pct); Allison Barker (2.59 k/s, .234%)

- Top Setter: Ashley Petak (416 assists, 5.94/set); Kylie Easlon (305 assists, 4.36/s)

- Top Defense: Casey Bruno (274 digs, 4.15/set); Sharpe (67 blocks, 1.00/set)

 

- Team Offense: 14.08 kills/set; .292 atk pct; 1.51 aces/set

- Team Defense: 15.49 digs/set; 2.07 blocks/set

 

- Top Offense: Bradye Peniston (2.61 kills/set, .376 atk pct); Abby Gruenbacher (2.76 k/s, .355%)

- Top Setter: Julia Bates (539 assists, 10.57/set)

- Top Defense: Rachel Fister (256 digs, 5.02/set); Peniston (44 blocks, 0.86/set)

 

- Head Coach: Flip Piontek (2^nd season at UCM, 49-8 record)

- Series Info: UCM leads, 52-30-3. Last: UCM swept in 2009 (3-2 in Kirksville, 3-0 in Warrensburg)

 

- Team Offense: 12.50 kills/set; .188 atk pct; 1.55 aces/set

- Team Defense: 14.82 digs/set; 1.47 blocks/set

 

- Top Offense: Kayla Uhing (3.15 kills/set, .159 atk pct); Natalie Ebke (2.93 k/s, .166%)

- Top Setter: Emily Myers (589 assists, 9.82/set)

- Top Defense: Angie Reicks (255 digs, 4.25/set); Brittany Hansen (38 blocks, 0.72/set)

 

- Head Coach: Rose Shires (21^st season at UNO, 419-235 record)

- Series Info: UNO leads, 13-8. Last: TSU swept in 2009 (3-2 in Omaha, 3-1 in Kirksville).

 

The Bulldogs close out the first time through the MIAA season with home matches on Friday and Saturday next week, hosting Northwest Missouri (Fri., Oct. 15; 7:00 pm) and Missouri Western (Sat., Oct. 16; 7:00 pm). Saturday night's match will close the Homecoming festivities on Truman's campus.