Weekly Schedule:
Saturday, Sept. 17 – vs. #22 Emporia (Kan.) State; 1:00 pm; Kirksville, Mo.
Full Notes (PDF)
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Conference season is here for the Truman volleyball team after two weekends of non-conference play, as the Bulldogs welcome No. 22 Emporia State to Pershing Arena for both the home and MIAA opener this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.
It's a light docket this week for the Bulldogs, who are coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Southwest Baptist Purple Bash. Truman opened the weekend with a heartbreaking, five-set loss to then-No. 12 Minnesota State, rebounded with back-to-back wins against Southern Arkansas and Colorado School of Mines, but fell in the finale to Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Despite coming up with one less win than the weekend before, the Bulldogs actually hit more than 40 points higher, checking in with a team percentage of .212 for the four matches in Bolivar. A two-time all-American, junior Megan Sharpe hit .402 for the Bash, earning all-tournament team accolades by putting down 3.64 kills and 1.21 blocks per set. Freshman Abby Moser dug 6.00 attacks per set, earning her MIAA Specialist of the Week honors for the second time in as many weeks.
The Bulldog block came up big, totaling an MIAA season-best 17 against MSU to kick-start the weekend en route to averaging 2.38 per set (38 total).
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.
Keep up with the Bulldogs by tracking in-game updates (when available). Follow Truman Athletics on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TrumanAthletics. Also be sure to sign up for TextCaster updates on the Bulldog homepage.
Scouting the Hornets:
The No. 22 Emporia State Hornets, who enter the week with a 5-3 overall record, visit Kirksville on Saturday after opening up their conference schedule on Wednesday night against Northwest Missouri in Emporia.
ESU opened the season with five matches in Boca Raton, Fla., cruising through the first four with ease before falling in five sets at Lynn University. The Hornets returned home to down Rockhurst in five before dropping matches to No. 3 Tampa and Azusa (Calif.) Pacific last Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo., as part of the UCM Classic.
The Hornets currently boast the top offensive unit in the league, attacking at a .281 clip behind three players ranked in the MIAA's top ten. Katie Deutschmann ranks third in the league at .350, while the team's all-around top threat is likely Paige Vanderpool, who is hitting .305, averaging 3.10 kills per set and 2.57 digs per set. She also is second in the league in aces with 17. Middle blocker Courtney Haring has been filling that role early on, leading the league in blocks with 44 (1.69/set) while hitting .323.
Bing Xu is in his seventh season with the Hornets and has compiled a 157-56 mark.
The two teams split their matches last season, with each winning on their own home court. Truman holds a 33-13 lead in the all-time series.
Middle Madness vs. ESU:
The Bulldogs' three returning middles – Megan Sharpe, Emily Briseno and Johanna Ruff – have experienced great success against the Hornets during their careers, combining to average nearly three kills per set at a .432 hitting percentage in 32 total sets. Sharpe in particular has used her four career matches against ESU to the team's benefit, averaging 4.20 kills per set and hitting .535 (nine errors on 101 swings).
Moser Makes National Waves:
In addition to starting her collegiate career with back-to-back MIAA Specialist of the Week accolades, freshman libero Abby Moser leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally with her 5.89 digs per set average through the first two weeks of the season. The Wildwood, Mo.-native has already had five matches with 20 or more digs, including a season-high 37 against then-No. 12 Minnesota State on Sept. 9.
Will Dig for Points:
Truman is the top MIAA team in digs through the first two weeks, averaging 18.32 per set. That's also good for a top-15 national ranking.
Opening Strong at Home:
In the last 11 home openers, the Bulldogs have posted a 10-1 record, including seven sweeps. Last season, the Bulldogs defeated No. 3 Washburn, 3-1, in the home opener on Sept. 17 to kickstart an eight-match winning streak.
Continuing the Tradition:
The Bulldogs rank 15th in Div. II?history in all-time appearances in the top-25 (155) 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.
Bulldogs Tabbed Third in MIAA:
The Truman volleyball team was picked third in the 2011 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, announced Wednesday, Aug. 3 by the league office.
The Bulldogs earned 65 points in the poll, earning seven third-place votes and a pair of second-place votes. Truman fell in behind preseason favorite Central Missouri (81 points, nine first-place votes) and Washburn (73 points, one first-place vote). Emporia State (50) and Pittsburg State (47) rounded out the top five. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The MIAA will play as a ten-team volleyball league in 2011 following the departure of Nebraska-Omaha in March. The only current league school not competing in volleyball is Lincoln (Mo.).
Up Next:
The Bulldogs kick off a six-match trip away from Pershing Arena next Friday and Saturday at No. 4 Washburn and Fort Hays State. Truman and the Lady Blues will serve it up in Topeka, Kan., at 7:00 pm next Friday (Sept. 23) before the 'Dogs meet the Tigers in Hays., Kan., at 2:00 pm on Saturday (Sept. 24).
