Oct. 30, 2004
Bulldogs End Regular Season With A Perfect 30-0 Record
The Truman volleyball team concluded its 2004 regular season on Saturday with a 30-23, 30-21, 30-27 win over conference rival Pittsburg State (Kan.) at Pershing Arena in Kirksville.
The Bulldogs concluded the regular season with a perfect 30-0 record. They are the first MIAA school to go undefeated for an entire season and the fourth to have a perfect record in conference play. The 30 straight wins are a new school record, besting the 26 straight set by the 2001 squad. Truman has now won 39 straight regular season matches and 24 straight MIAA contests.
A strong defensive effort by Truman led to the straight set victory over Pittsburg State. The Bulldogs recoded 11 blocks and 73 digs in the contest. They also kept Pittsburg State's Elizabeth Anyigor-Abitogun from having a huge night. The MIAA leader in points and kills had 13 kills and 17 points, both below her season average, and the Bulldogs held her to just a .071 hitting percentage.
A pair of Bulldogs recorded double-doubles in the win. Jessica Sears (Colchester, Ill./Colchester) had a team-high 13 kills and 13 digs. Sarah Shearman (Manchester, Mo./Lutheran South) added 10 kills and 14 digs. Tiffany Graham (Holden, Mo./Holden) and Kelsey Wackerman (Camdenton, Mo./Camdenton) chipped in with nine kills apiece and Annie Nickolai (St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne) had seven kills and a .team-high .438 hitting percentage.
Lauren Dickbernd (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West) had a game-high 18 kills from her libero position and Christine Wagener (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West) led the team with 27 assists. Graham had a hand in six of Truman's block, including two solos.
Pittsburg State's Ashley Rigby was also in double-figure kills with 10 and tied with Anyigor-Abitogun with six blocks. Sarah Wohlgemuth had 40 assists for the Gorillas and CJ Mahoney with 13 digs.
Truman will face Indian Hills Community College on Tuesday in an exhibition game at Pershing Arena. That night will be Senior Night and the team will also be awarded their 2004 MIAA regular season conference championship trophy before the game. The Bulldogs begin postseason play on Nov. 11 when they host a MIAA semifinal match at 7 p.m.