Volleyball Week 7 Notes: at #1 UNK | at FHSU | at Mo. S&T

Weekly Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 12 – at #1 Nebraska-Kearney – Kearney, Neb. – 6:00 pm
Live Stats | Live Video

Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Fort Hays State – Hays, Kan. – 3:00 pm
Live Stats | Live Video

Tuesday, Oct. 16 – at Missouri S&T * - Rolla, Mo., - 7:00 pm
Live Stats | *-Non-conference match

PDF Notes

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - The Truman volleyball team is set to log nearly 1,500 miles in five days to play three key road matches, beginning on Friday night against the nation's lone unbeaten team, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, before facing Fort Hays State on Saturday and Missouri S&T on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs, currently riding a season-high seven-match winning streak, will head to Kearney for the second time this season, having posted a 3-1 record at the Loper Invitational in mid-September. This time, however, the toughest challenge of the season awaits, as UNK holds the top spot in the AVCA top-25 coaches' poll and stands as Division II's last remaining unblemished squad at 18-0.

Following the UNK match is a fast turnaround in Hays, Kansas, against the FHSU Tigers, an 18-win squad already in 2012, on Saturday at 3:00 pm. After a return to Kirksville, the Bulldogs will turn around and travel to future-GLVC foe and in-state rival Missouri S&T on Tuesday night for a 7:00 pm match against a 13-5 Miner squad entering this week of play.

Truman, meanwhile, is on a red-hot run of its own, having jumped out to a 16-4 (5-2 MIAA) start through 20 matches. In the current seven-match win streak, the Bulldogs are hitting .305 as a team, holding opponents to an .091 mark, and have won 21 of 24 sets.

Reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Allie Brak leads the squad in kills (3.69) and points (4.15) per set, while hitting .248 on the outside. In the middle, three-time AVCA all-American Megan Sharpe is tallying her best statistical season yet with 3.17 kills and 1.22 blocks per set, coupled with a robust .375 attack percentage. Freshman right-side Abby Heise has steadily raised her numbers to 2.05 k/s and .273 attacking.

Sophomore setter Meghan Zimmerman continues to guide the offense, averaging 9.99 assists and 2.67 digs per set, with fellow sophomore Abby Moser leading the back line with 4.29 digs per set.

The Bulldogs are coached by Ben Briney, who, in his fourth season at the helm, has compiled an overall record of 85-39.

Weekly Recap with Coach Briney:
To watch this week's weekly recap with coach Ben Briney, click the video link below. If the video is not appearing, please access the full weekly notes at TrumanBulldogs.com.

Following the Bulldogs:
Full coverage of Truman volleyball is available online at TrumanBulldogs.com, including results, upcoming match 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-match updates (when available). Follow Truman Athletics on Twitter (@TrumanAthletics). Also be sure to sign up for Text Caster and Newsletter updates on the TrumanBulldogs.com homepage.

Brak Takes Home Nation's Top Weekly Honor:
Sophomore Allie Brak was named the Sports Imports/America Volleyball Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Week on Oct. 10 for her play at the Washburn Fall Classic.

Brak averaged 4.36 kills and 2.43 digs per set, while hitting .363 as part of a 4-0 weekend for the Bulldogs. In earning additional recognition as a member of the all-tournament team, as well being named the MIAA Hitter of the Week, Brak posted at least 13 kills in all four matches at the event. She opened the weekend with a 15-kill, .361 mark against East Central (Okla.) before recording her 20^th career double-double with an 18-kill, 16-dig effort against Harding (Ark.) in Friday's (Oct. 5) nightcap.

Then, on Saturday (Oct. 6), she hit .407 on 13 kills in a sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State before putting away 15 kills and hitting .500 in a 3-0 win against Southeastern Oklahoma State. She averaged 4.96 points per set on the weekend, aided by seven service aces – including a career-best five against SEOSU.

She becomes the first Bulldog since Molly Sinclair in September 2010 to earn AVCA National Player of the Week accolades and only the fifth Bulldog to ever win the award. She joins Sinclair, Jessica Sears (2003), Cassy Felkerson (2001) and Neely Forbes (1993) as Truman recipients of the AVCA top weekly honor.

Bulldogs Add Bite to Toughest Region in Nation:
The Central region is unquestionably the toughest region in the country, as evidenced by its holding of the top four spots in the AVCA top-25 coaches' poll. In addition, the region has six teams in the top-10 and eight total in the top-25, with three others (including Truman) receiving votes. The MIAA is represented by No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, No. 4 Washburn and No. 7 Central Missouri, while the NSIC has five of its teams in the top-25, led by No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul.

All four of Truman's losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the top-15, with a pair of five-set losses to WU and UCM in conference play as well as three-set losses to UMD and Minnesota State (#13) in non-conference action.

On the flip side, Truman is 16-0 against teams not ranked in the top-25 at match time. The Bulldogs have just two matches currently scheduled the rest of the way (at UNK; vs. UCM) against teams ranked in the top-25.

Checking Out the Competition:
#1 Nebraska-Kearney “Lopers” (18-0, 5-0 MIAA)
Nebraska-Kearney enters the week as the nation's only unbeaten squad, although they'll have one test before Truman visits on Friday as the Lopers travel to No. 19 Wayne (Neb.) State on Wednesday night.

The nation's No. 1 team is hitting .259 as a unit and holding opponents to a .111 mark. Ariel Krolikowski is the team's top hitting at 3.52 kills/set, with Katie Sokolowski adding a 3.04 k/s and .379% mark. The Lopers get it done defensively, averaging more than 20 digs per set.

Truman and UNK have met seven times previously, with the Lopers holding a 4-2-1 lead all-time. The last meeting came in 2008 – a 3-1 UNK win in Kearney. Rick Squiers is in his 14^th season at the helm, having compiled a 435-58 all-time record.

Fort Hays State “Tigers” (18-6, 4-3 MIAA)
Fort Hays has played more matches than anyone in the MIAA this season, having won 18 of 24 entering the week. The Tigers were 3-1 home winners against Missouri Western on Tuesday night and will face Lindenwood on Friday at home.

The Tigers have a .202 offensive clip, led by Jenna Ulrich's 2.77 k/s and .348 marks. Kylee Hoagland (2.57 k/s), Taylor Mares (2.36 k/s) and Madison Schwartz (2.19 k/s) also add a variety of offensive options. FHSU has put up a big block this year, averaging 2.15 blocks/set.

Truman is 11-1 all-time against FHSU with the teams having split five-setters last season. Kurt Kohler is in his fourth season as the program's head coach where he has a 49-74 record.

Missouri S&T “Miners” (13-5, 9-0 GLVC)
The Miners enter this weekend's GLVC/GLIAC Crossover as winners of nine straight – all coming in the GLVC to jump out to a fast start in league play. After losing the first four to start the season, S&T has won 13 of 14 overall, with the only loss in that stretch coming in straight sets at Central Missouri.

S&T is hitting .205 as a unit, with five different players averaging more than 2.3 kills per set. Krista Haslag is a two-time GLVC player of the week, as her 2.67 kills and 1.62 blocks per set pace the green and gold.

Truman is 2-0 against the Miners all-time, having most recently played in 2008 – a 3-0 Bulldog win in Rolla. Jason Holt is in his sixth season at the helm of the Miner program with a 70-113 record.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs are set to return home to celebrate Homecoming weekend with a 7pm home match against Pittsburg State on Friday, Oct. 19 before taking on Central Oklahoma at 7pm on Saturday, Oct. 20.

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