November 8, 2010
Full Notes (PDF)
The 2010 regular season draws to a close this week for the 18th-ranked Truman volleyball squad, and two road matches remain on the docket with Friday and Saturday night matches at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.
The Bulldogs (23-7, 12-6 MIAA) are mired in their first mini-slump of the season, having dropped three of their past four – though all have come against teams currently ranked in the South Central region top-10. Truman, though, will try to finalize its postseason credentials on a positive note, going for season sweeps against both the NWMSU Bearcats (14-11, 10-7 MIAA) and MWSU Griffons (12-15, 8-10 MIAA).
Truman and Northwest are set for a 7pm first serve in Maryville on Friday (Nov. 13) night before the purple and white close the regular season with a 7pm match in St. Joseph on Saturday (Nov. 14) evening.
Following Along This Week:
Live stats for both 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 both matches through the MIAA's online provider – AmericaOne/B2 Networks. Links to the 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 47-20 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:
Once again, little shakeup occurred in the AVCA top-25 coaches' poll this week, with Truman dropping two spots to No. 18 following its 0-2 record last week.
Four MIAA teams remained in the top-25, with Washburn moving up one slot to No. 5, Central Missouri staying at No. 8 and Emporia State taking the biggest hit by falling five spots to No. 17.
The Bulldogs were selected to the AVCA coaches' top-25 poll for the 151st straight week, dating back to 2000. The next poll comes out on Monday, Nov. 15.
Creating that Lasting Impression:
Senior Ashley Petak continued her ascent up the program's all-time digs chart this past week, moving into ninth all-time with 1,313 career digs past Janelle Zehr (1997-2000).
She also is third all-time in career assists (3,397), fifth in both matches played (150) and service aces (135), and sixth in sets (545) played. At her current pace, she will have chances to move up the charts even further in both matches and sets played – including a jump to into fourth in sets played with the minimum at Northwest Missouri on Friday night.
Crunch Time:
With just two regular season matches remaining, senior libero Casey Bruno currently has a .09/set lead in Truman's all-time digs per set chart. She leads Whitney Boehler (2005-08), who finished her career with a 4.40 digs/set average.
Despite playing the majority of her career in the 25-point rally-scoring era, Bruno is also just three matches behind Boehler for the most 20+ dig matches in program history. The 5-foot-5 Pearland, Texas-native has 25 career matches beyond that level and needs four more to tie Boehler's program record of 28.
No Sophomore Slump:
After earning only the program's second National Freshman of the Year award last year, sophomore middle blocker Megan Sharpe has pieced together a quality second season, ranking second on the team in total kills, first in hitting percentage and first in total blocks.
She has already amassed 670 career kills and 210 career blocks, which currently have her approaching the program's all-time top ten in both categories. She is the current top hitter in program history at .340 – more than twenty points higher than Allie Cherven's .317 mark (2006-2008).
MIAA Hitter of the Week, and Repeat, and Repeat, and Repeat:
The Bulldogs have had four MIAA Hitter of the Week awards this season, with Megan Sharpe having garnered two, and both Allison Barker and Molly Sinclair picking up one.
Sinclair parlayed hers into the program's first National Player of the Week award in more than five years during the season's first week.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered:
When the 'Dogs have gotten ahead, 2-0, in a match this season, it's been lights-out for their opponents, as the 'Dogs are closing out matches 100% of the time in the ensuing sets. Truman is now 14-0 when getting ahead, 2-0.
Throw it in “Neutral”:
In neutral-site matches this season, the Bulldogs are 10-0, compared to 8-2 at home and 5-5 in true road contests.
Milestone Watch:
- Junior Kylie Easlon now has a firm grip on 9th all-time in career assists, passing Theresa Huff last week and now sitting with 1,247 for her career.
- Senior Casey Bruno needs 56 digs to reach 1,250 for her career.
- Sophomore Heather Hargadine passed the 250-kill mark last week.
- Sophomore Allyson Stellmach passed the 50-block mark last week.
- Sophomore Lauren Radix passed the 50-block mark last week.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, Nov. 14. Full coverage will be available throughout the week leading up to Selection Sunday at TrumanBulldogs.com.
