Volleyball Week 8 Notes: vs. PSU | vs. UCO | vs. LWU

Weekly Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 19 – vs. Pittsburg State – Kirksville, Mo. – 7:00 pm
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Saturday, Oct. 20 – vs. Central Oklahoma – Kirksville, Mo. – 7:00 pm
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Tuesday, Oct. 23 – vs. Lindenwood – Kirksville, Mo. – 7:00 pm
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PDF Notes
Twitter: @TrumanVB

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - The 20^th-ranked Truman volleyball team will carry its longest winning streak in nearly four full seasons into a three-match stretch this Friday through Tuesday, as the Bulldogs welcome Pittsburg State, Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood to Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs (19-4, 7-2 MIAA) sit just one game back in the MIAA standings as the final half of the conference season gets into full-swing this week. Truman will host three teams that have experienced recent success in league play, as PSU visits Kirksville on Friday, Oct. 19, UCO comes to Pershing on Saturday, Oct. 20, and LWU caps off the stretch with a re-match in Kirksville on Tuesday, Oct. 23. All three matches are set to begin at 7:00 pm.

In recent action, Truman ran through a three-match road trip that consisted of nearly 1,500 miles of travel in five days. The Bulldogs dumped then-No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday (Oct. 12) in four sets, before sweeping Fort Hays State on Saturday (Oct. 13). Truman then traveled to future GLVC-foe Missouri S&T on Tuesday (Oct. 16) evening and picked up a five-set win. Sophomore setter Meghan Zimmerman was rewarded with her play at UNK and FHSU with the league's Specialist of the Week award, as Truman hit a combined .225 in the three wins while holding the opponents to a .152 mark. Senior Megan Sharpe averaged 3.33 kills and 1.08 blocks per set, with sophomore Allie Brak adding 3.08 kills and 3.33 digs per set in the matches.

On the season, the Bulldogs are hitting .241 as a team, averaging 13.1 kills per set to their opponents' marks of .143 and 11.2 k/s. Sharpe and Brak are both averaging more than four points per set, with two freshmen – Abby Heise (2.70 pt/s) and Ali Patterson (2.47 pt/s) – also putting up big numbers on both sides of the net. Senior Emily Briseno has raised her season hitting average to .240 and is recording 0.84 blocks/set.

Zimmerman's setting average continues to climb, averaging 10.15 assists/set, while also leading the team with 34 aces. Sophomore libero Abby Moser continues to make her marks on the back line, leading all 'Dogs with 4.42 digs/set.

The Bulldogs are coached by Ben Briney, who, in his fourth season at the helm, has compiled an overall record of 88-39.

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.

Bulldogs Return to AVCA Top-25:
For the 157^th time in program history, the Truman volleyball team found itself amongst the nation's elite as part of the AVCA top-25 coaches' poll this week, sliding in at No. 20. The Bulldogs, who had been receiving votes all season, were one of two new teams to join the top-25.

The Bulldogs returned to the top-25 for the first time since week 3 (Sept. 19) of the 2011 season, when the squad was listed at No. 24. The No. 20 ranking is the highest since the 2011 preseason poll, when the 'Dogs were also listed at No. 20.

Truman is one of four MIAA teams to be listed in the poll, joining No. 3 Washburn, No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 7 Central Missouri. The Bulldogs are one of nine teams from the Central region in the poll, as the Northern Sun Conference has representation from No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 4 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth, No. 13 Minnesota State and No. 18 Wayne (Neb.) State.

The AVCA poll has no bearing on tournament selection, with the NCAA's first set of regional polls not set to debut until Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Chasing Career Marks:
Two seniors and two sophomores are making noise on the all-time career charts. Their numbers are outlined below.

Megan Sharpe-
Kills – 1,331 (7^th) – Next: Jessica Sears (1,644 – 2001-04)
Hitting Percentage - .346 (1^st) – 2^nd: Allie Cherven (.317 – 2006-08)
10+ Kill Matches – 72 (t-7^th) – Next: Two players (84)
Blocks – 451 (5^th) – Next: Jennifer Sigman (470 – 1994-97)
Sets Played – 457 (NR) – 10^th: Two Players (472)

Emily Briseno-
Blocks – 340 (9^th) – Next: Micaela Walter (364 – 2002-05)

Abby Moser-
Digs – 1,075 (NR) – 10^th: Janelle Zehr (1,304 – 1997-00)
Digs/set – 4.98 (1^st) – 2^nd: Casey Bruno (4.50 – 2007-10)
10+ Dig Matches – 50 (NR) – 10^th: Satoko Miyame (57 – 1990-93)
20+ Dig Matches – 26 (2^nd) – 1^st: Whitney Boehler (28 – 2005-08)
30+ Dig Matches – 3 (T-1^st)

Meghan Zimmerman-
Assists – 1,470 (10^th) – Next: Kelsey Wackerman (1,788 – 2003-06)

Checking Out the Competition:
Pittsburg State “Gorillas” (11-9, 2-6 MIAA)
The Gorillas enter the week having won two straight, including a five-set thriller at Northwest Missouri on Oct. 14. It marked their first true road win of the season, as the squad is 1-3 away from home.

Pitt is hitting .204 as a club with five players averaging better than two kills per set. Brooke Fay is the top all-around weapon, averaging 2.46 kills and hitting .306. Becca Pearson and Hayley Hansford split the setting duties, while Nicole Rockhold is averaging a team-best 3.09 digs/set.

Truman and PSU will be meeting for the 50^th time on Friday night, with the Bulldogs holding a 43-6 all-time lead. The two squads split decisions last season, with Truman winning 3-0 at home in late October. Ibraheem Suberu is in his 13^th season at the head of the PSU program.

Central Oklahoma “Bronchos” (10-11, 5-5 MIAA)
Another team on the rise is Saturday night's opponent, Central Oklahoma, as the Bronchos have won five straight and will go for six in a row on Friday at Lindenwood before visiting Kirksville.

UCO is hitting .171 as a team, led by the MIAA's top attacker, Morgan Roy. Roy is averaging 3.75 kills per set, while also adding 2.96 digs per frame. No regular hits higher than .234, with Faith Harmon handling the majority of the setting duties at 8.74 assists/set. Tate Hardaker is one of the league's top liberos, averaging 5.01 digs/set.

Truman and UCO will be meeting for the 11^th time on Saturday night, with the Bulldogs holding a 6-4 all-time lead. The teams played last season at the WU Crossover, with Truman winning 3-1. Edgar Miraku is in his first season at the head of the UCO program.

Lindenwood “Lions” (13-9, 3-5 MIAA)
The Bulldogs will be looking for a season sweep of Lindenwood on Tuesday night, when the Lions visit Kirksville after hosting PSU and UCO during the weekend. Truman took a 3-2 decision in St. Charles during both teams' MIAA openers on Sept. 11.

LWU is hitting .190 as a team, led by three players all hovering around the 2.50 kills/set mark. Kelsey Kennedy (2.62) leads the trio, while Emma Brydels' 9.96 assist/set mark paces the Lion attack. Kaila Schrimpf is the team's top defender at 4.68 digs/set.

Truman and LWU have met twice, with Truman holding a 2-0 lead in the all-time series. Allie Brak (19 kills) and Megan Sharpe (17 kills) led the Bulldogs in the earlier meeting between the teams. Ron Young is in his 11^th season at the head of the LWU program.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs will be off until Saturday (Oct. 27), when the squad hosts its Dig Pink match against Southwest Baptist at 6:00 pm. Truman then heads to Missouri Western on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 pm.

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