Volleyball Week 6 Notes: Washburn Lady Blues Crossover

Weekly Schedule:
Washburn Lady Blues Fall Classic (Oct. 5-6; Topeka, Kan.)
Friday, Oct. 5 – vs. East Central (Okla.) – 9:30 am
Friday, Oct. 5 – vs. Harding (Ark.) – 4:30 pm
Saturday, Oct. 6 – vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State – 11:00 am
Saturday, Oct. 6 – vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State – 3:30 pm

Live Stats for all 4 matches at WU

PDF Notes

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Coming off its first undefeated week of the season, the Truman volleyball team will go for a quick four wins at the annual Washburn Lady Blues Fall Classic, held this Friday and Saturday in Topeka, Kansas.

The Bulldogs (12-4, 5-2 MIAA) will step out of MIAA play to take on four regional opponents from the Great American Conference, one of the other two conferences that comprise the Central region along with the MIAA and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Truman is slated to face East Central (Okla.) and Harding (Ark.) on Friday before tackling a pair of Oklahoma directional schools – Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State – on Saturday.

Truman will be competing for the seventh straight season at the WU Fall Classic, starting with the debut event in 2006 and partaking in the regional crossover every year since. Lee Arena has been a friendly spot for the 'Dogs at the event, with Truman posting a 22-2 (.917) career mark at the tournament as just one of three charter programs of the event. However, with Truman's impending shift to the GLVC next season, this will mark the final time the Bulldogs compete at the Crossover.

A perfect 3-0 week helped the Bulldogs reach double-digit wins in week five of the 2012 season, as Truman dispatched of Quincy, Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri in 10 total sets last week in Pershing Arena. The Bulldogs are now hitting .223 on the season as a team compared to just .142 for their opponents. Truman is out-acing (78-68), out-digging (16.4 – 16.0/set) and out-blocking (2.0 – 1.8/set) on the season and have pulled off seven sweeps in its dozen victories.

Sophomore Allie Brak has been on a tear since returning from an injury that forced her to miss the season-opening home tournament, averaging 3.89 points per set. She leads the squad with 3.48 kills/set, ranks second in digs at 2.80/set and is hitting .213 on the outside.

Senior Megan Sharpe has improved on her three-time all-American numbers in the middle, as the AVCA accolade recipient is averaging 3.85 points per set behind a 3.00 k/s mark, 1.23 blocks/set and a .337 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Meghan Zimmerman is the squad's primary setter, averaging 9.56 assists and 2.71 digs per set, with fellow sophomore Abby Moser ranking amongst the MIAA's elite with a 4.37 digs/set average.

The Bulldogs are coached by Ben Briney, who, in his fourth season at the helm, has compiled an overall record of 81-39.

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 Add Bite to Toughest Region in Nation:
The Central region is unquestionably the toughest region in the country, as evidenced by holding the top four spots in the AVCA top-25 coaches' poll. In addition, the region has seven teams in the top-10 and eight total in the top-25, with two 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, No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul, and No. 10 Minnesota State-Mankato.

All four of Truman's losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the top-10, with a pair of five-set losses to WU and UCM in conference play as well as three-set losses to UMD and MSU-M in non-conference action.

On the flip side, Truman is 12-0 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:
East Central “Tigers” (5-11)
East Central has dropped two straight with a mid-week match against Central Oklahoma standing between them and the WU Crossover. The Tigers are hitting just .147 as a team on the season, backed by senior MB Tatiana Booth's 2.57 k/s mark and .304 hitting percentage.

The Tigers are 0-3 against the MIAA this season, falling in straight sets to Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State while losing 3-1 to Southwest Baptist.

Friday will mark just the second meeting between the squads, with Truman winning a 3-0 decision in October 2008 at the WU Crossover. Dave Thorn is in his fifth season with the program and is the only coach in program history.

Harding “Bison” (12-4)
The only program with double-digit wins that Truman will face this weekend, Harding is off to an identical 12-4 start in 2012, having won 11 of 13 after a 1-2 start. The Bison will host Henderson State on Tuesday night prior to traveling to Topeka.

Harding is hitting .199 as a club this season and is led by junior OH Mollie Arnold (3.84 k/s, .231 atk%) and sophomore MB Liv Savage (2.16 k/s, 0.76 b/s, .301 atk%). The Bison are 2-1 against the MIAA this season, winning 3-2 against PSU and 3-0 against Missouri Southern, but falling 3-1 to Emporia State.

The Bulldogs are 4-0 all-time against HU but have not faced the Bison since 2004. Meredith Fear is in her first season at the helm of the Bison program.

Southwestern Oklahoma State “Bulldogs” (5-11)
SWOSU heads to Topeka having won two of three and will face Washburn and Northwest Missouri on day one of the event. The Bulldogs are hitting just .129 on the season while allowing opponents to connect at a .218 rate. Junior MB Alison Cole is the team's top hitter at .210 and 1.96 k/s).

The Bulldogs are just 0-1 against MIAA teams this season, having lost in three to Missouri Western in early September.

Saturday marks just the second meeting between the two Bulldog programs, with Truman getting the best of SWOSU at the 2009 WU Crossover in three sets. Josh Collins is in his first season as the team's head coach.

Southeastern Oklahoma State “Savage Storm” (2-12)
SEOSU has lost 12 of 14 at the start of the 2012 season and is hitting .130 (opponents are hitting .252) so far this year. The squad has two main offensive threats – sophomore OH/OPP Emily Gentle (3.02 k/s, .131%) and freshman OH Megan Kunkel (2.93 k/s, .131%).

The Savage Storm have not played an MIAA team yet this season, but will face Emporia State and Washburn on day one before tackling Missouri Western and Truman on day two.

Like SWOSU, Truman holds a 1-0 lead in the all-time series, having earned a 3-1 win on Sept. 11, 2009 in Edmond, Okla. Jenn King is in her third season as the program's head coach.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs remain on the road next weekend for a pair of tough tests in MIAA action – traveling to No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday (Oct. 12) at 6:00 pm before facing Fort Hays State on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 3:00 pm.

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