Aug. 23, 2000
Bulldog Volleyball Team Begins 2000 Campaign at Maverick/Ramada Inn Tournament
THE MAVERICK/RAMADA INN TOURNAMENT GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs
(Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs.
North Dakota State University (North Central Conference/NCAA Division II)
DATE: Friday, Aug. 25
TIME: 2:30 p.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Omaha, Neb.
ARENA: Lee Sapp Fieldhouse (3,500)
THE MAVERICK/RAMADA INN TOURNAMENT GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs
(Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs.
University of Nebraska-Omaha (North Central Conference/NCAA Division II)
DATE: Friday, Aug. 25
TIME: 7 p.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Omaha, Neb.
ARENA: Lee Sapp Fieldhouse (3,500)
THE MAVERICK/RAMADA INN TOURNAMENT GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs
(Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs.
Morningside College (Iowa) (North Central Conference/NCAA Division II)
DATE: Saturday, Aug. 26
TIME: 10:30 a.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Omaha, Neb.
ARENA: Lee Sapp Fieldhouse (3,500)
THE MAVERICK/RAMADA INN TOURNAMENT GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs
(Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs.
Colorado School of Mines (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference/NCAA Division
II)
DATE: Saturday, Aug. 26
TIME: 3 p.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Omaha, Neb.
ARENA: Lee Sapp Fieldhouse (3,500)
TRUMAN: The Bulldogs enter the 2000 campaign in search of their 11th consecutive 20-win season and first postseason appearance since 1994. The 'Dogs return seven letterwinners and all six starters from a year ago, when the team finished 23-9 overall, had the fewest losses since 1981 and had the best winning percentage (.719) since 1990. Truman also established its best ever record in conference play, going 14-2 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's 1999 race, but came up just short of qualifying for the NCAA postseason by ranking fifth in the South Central Region.
In 2000, the Bulldogs are armed with more experience and depth than at any other time in head coach Becky Eggering's previous three years with the team.
"We're definitely stronger," said Eggering, who takes a 66-37 career record into the new season. "We have more depth than we've ever had, at least since I've been here.
"It makes it nice in practice to have such depth. The players are loving the game and playing at a very competitive and high level in preseason."
Truman is led by its lone senior, middle/outside hitter Janelle Zehr (Deer Creek, Ill./Mackinaw), a returning all-region and first-team all-conference performer. Zehr finished second in the MIAA a year ago in kills (4.02 per game) and tied for fifth in hitting percentage (.288). She is currently the Bulldogs' career leader in kills per game with 3.87.
Setter Monica Marlowe (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) returns for her sophomore season after turning in a record-breaking freshman campaign. She was named the conference and regional freshman of the year, earned first-team all-MIAA honors and broke the school record for single-season assists average (12.50 per game). Marlowe recorded 1,388 assists in 1999, and also beat the school single-match record with 78 assists in a five-game contest versus Lewis (Ill.).
Juniors Brenda Ippensen (Quincy, Ill.), Cassy Felkerson (Salem, Mo.) and Jenny Glenn (Granby, Colo./Middle Park) also return providing depth and experience. Ippensen, who paced the team with 3.53 digs per game, was a second-team all-MIAA choice in 1999, while Glenn earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. Felkerson, who led the team with 1.02 blocks per game, was named to the GTE Academic All-District team.
Along with Marlowe, the rest of the Bulldogs' sophomore class includes Jackie Knight (Chesterfield, Mo./Lafayette) and Ashley Patey (St. Louis/St. Joseph's Academy). Both saw considerable action as freshmen, playing in 103 and 112 games, respectively.
The Bulldogs also have a talented class of newcomers, led by junior transfer Eliza Hoerner (Augusta, Mo./Washington). Hoerner rang up 668 kills in two years at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and was named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference second team as a sophomore. She finished second in the league in kills (4.12 per game) and sixth in hitting percentage (.270).
Five freshmen figure to challenge for playing time. Outside hitter Jenna Buckner (Quincy, Ill.) has stood out in the preseason, while Rachael Shedd (Omaha, Neb./Westside) could challenge Marlowe at setter. Carrie Ippensen (Quincy, Ill.), the sister of Brenda Ippensen, is working at defensive specialist and outside hitter. Sarah Bunch (Rogersville, Mo./Logan-Rogersville) and Rebekah Wedick (Willow Springs, Mo.) are in the mix at outside hitter and middle hitter, respectively.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison return three starters and 11 letterwinners off of last year's 29-4 team that advanced to the Elite Eight. The team, which is ranked sixth in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25, is led statistically by junior outside hitter Rachael Schmieg, who averaged 3.58 kills and 4.10 digs per game.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA: The host of the tournament, UNO begins the season ranked fifth in the AVCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, meaning the 'Dogs will face two of Division II's top six team on the first day of the season. The Mavericks went 27-5 last season and return five starters, led by senior outside hitter Tracy Ankeny, who averaged 4.48 kills per game in 1999, while recording 459 digs and hitting .353.
MORNINGSIDE: To start their Saturday action in the tournament, Truman takes on Morningside (Iowa), which has brought back five starters from last season's 11-27 squad. Tops among the returners is senior middle hitter Julie McBroom, who played in 134 games in 1999, recording 453 kills, 285 digs and 102 blocks while hitting .298. The Mustangs finished strong last season, posting three wins in their last four matches.
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES: To wrap up the tournament, Truman faces Colorado School of Mines on Saturday afternoon. The Orediggers went 10-21 last season and bring back four starters. Sophomore outside hitter Laurie Alzheimer was co-freshman of the year in the RMAC last year, charting a team-high 370 kills to go with 296 digs.
SERIES RECORDS: The Bulldogs trail 2-0 in the all-time series with North Dakota State, while Nebraska-Omaha has won 12 of the 13 meetins with Truman. Morningside has a 1-0 series lead over the Bulldogs, while Truman leads the all-time series 1-0 over Colorado School of Mines.
COACH: Becky Eggering begins her fourth year at the helm of the Bulldogs and has a 66-37 career record. Her winning percentage is tops all-time among Truman volleyball coaches and her 66 victories ranks her third all-time at the school.
UP NEXT: Truman will travel to Kansas City, Mo. on Sept. 1-2 for the Rockhurst Invitational. There, the 'Dogs will face Texas Wesleyan, North Dakota, Rockhurst and Midwestern State (Texas) before opening conference play on Sept. 8 at Emporia State (Kan.).