Full Notes (PDF)
Season Stats (PDF)
Week At-a-Glance:
Having played just two matches in the past two weeks, the 20th-ranked Truman volleyball squad returns to Kirksville hoping to end the first half of MIAA play with a pair of wins against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.
The Bulldogs (16-8, 4-4 MIAA) have uncharacteristically struggled within the confines of Pershing Arena, starting just 1-3 at home this season. Half of the regular season’s final 12 matches will take place on the south side of campus, giving the ‘Dogs ample chances to pick up key wins against conference foes.
Following the Team:
Bulldog box scores and match recaps will be available following each match on Truman’s Web site: gobulldogs.truman.edu.
Free live stats will be available through Truman’s Sports Information office, while live video will be hosted by B2 Networks. Links to both will be available on Truman’s Athletics Web site.
Bulldog Coaching Staff:
Ben Briney is in his first season as the head coach of the Bulldog volleyball program following a four-year stint as Truman’s top assistant from 2005-2008. As a head coach, he has a 16-8 career record following a 137-22 mark during his four seasons as an assistant.
He is assisted by Megan Wargo, who is in her first season at Truman after spending the past four years as the assistant coach at Div. II Lees-McRae (N.C.) College.
About the Bulldogs:
Truman moved up one spot to No. 20 in the AVCA coaches top-25 poll this week after a 1-1 record against a pair of top-15 squads last week. The ‘Dogs sit at 4-4 in MIAA play, two games behind fourth-place Washburn, and will hit the mid-point of conference play following Saturday’s showdown with Missouri Western.
Also of note this week will be the first official regional poll, released by the NCAA on Friday. The ranking will serve as the first indicator of Truman’s quest to reach the postseason for the tenth straight season, and the conference is expected to be helped by its overall strength of schedule with five teams currently ranked in the coaches’ top-20.
The Bulldogs are hitting .198 as a team - 20 points higher than its opposition - and are led by freshman middle blocker Megan Sharpe. Sharpe, who continues to push for MIAA freshman of the year consideration, leads the Bulldog attack with a 3.07 kills/set average along with a .358 hitting percentage. She is the only Bulldog regular hitting above. 200 and is backing up her offensive numbers with a team-high 62 blocks on the defensive side.
Senior right-side hitter Lauren Graybeal and junior outside hitter Allison Barker continue to press on above the two kills/set mark, with Graybeal adding 51 blocks and Barker tacking on 3.14 digs/set for all-around help.
Junior setter Ashley Petak moved into sixth all-time at Truman in assists this past week, and, with five more assists, will move into fifth past Nancy Hoerner with nearly 2,500 all-time. Petak is averaging 6.71 assist/set in Truman’s 6-2 system this season.
Junior libero Casey Bruno averaged nearly 6.5 digs/set during Truman’s two matches last week - aided by completing the program’s first 40-dig match in the rally-scoring era - to raise her season-long average to 4.59/set. That mark is good for third in the MIAA, while her 5.17 digs/set in conference matches only places her in the top-two amongst other MIAA liberos.
Scouting the Opposition:
Northwest Missouri State “Bearcats” (10-13, 1-6 MIAA)
Top Offense: Sara Falcone (2.61 k/s, .312); Ashley Mitchell (2.24 k/s, .196)
Top Setter: Laira Akin (769 assists, 9.61/set)
Top Defense: Paige Spangenberg (426 digs, 5.07/set); Falcone (75 blocks)
Road Record: 2-4 (1-2 MIAA)
Head Coach: Allison Rogers (0-0, first season; took over 10/13/09)
Missouri Western “Griffons” (7-14, 0-8 MIAA)
Top Offense: Kelli Sicner (3.32 k/s, .184); Meghan Voels (2.12 k/s, .088)
Top Setter: Madison Benton (541 assists, 8.87/set)
Top Defense: Voelz (180 digs, 2.34/set); Alex Behnke (61 blocks)
Road Record: 1-7 (0-5 MIAA)
Head Coach: Cory Frederick (7-14, first season at MWSU)
Series Info:
Truman vs. Northwest Missouri (Truman leads all-time series, 52-24-1).
Last year: Truman won, 3-0, on Oct. 17, 2008 in Maryville
Truman won, 3-0, on Nov. 14, 2008 in Kirksville
Truman vs. Missouri Western (Truman leads all-time series, 38-20).
Last year: Truman won, 3-1, on Oct. 18, 2008 in St. Joseph.
Truman won, 3-0, on Nov. 15, 2008 in Kirksville.
Quick Sets:
- Senior right-side hitter Lauren Graybeal and junior libero Casey Bruno were Truman’s two nominees for MIAA offensive player and specialist of the week for their play Oct. 5-11. Graybeal averaged 3.00 kills/set and hit .289, aided by a season-high 17 kills against Central Missouri on Oct. 7. Bruno, meanwhile, posted the program’s first 40+ dig effort in the rally-scoring era with 40 against UCM before digging 24 UNO attacks on Oct. 10. She averaged 6.40 digs/set for the week.
- Four Bulldogs - senior Graybeal, freshman Megan Sharpe, junior Ashley Petak and senior Erin Hattey - have played in all 24 matches this season.
- Freshman Megan Sharpe continues to make a case for MIAA freshman of the year, as she is on pace for more than 400 kills and nearly 100 blocks this season. Currently, she has 273 kills (3.07/set) and is hitting a team-high .358.
- Freshman Heather Hargadine recorded her first career double-double against Central Missouri on Oct. 7 with 12 kills and 25 digs. Both were career highs for the 5-foot-9 outside hitter from Labadie, Mo.
- Junior Ashley Petak (2,466 assists) continues to make noise in the program’s all-time assists list, passing Rachel Shedd (2,442; 200-2003) for 6th all-time last week. She now has Nancy Hoerner (2,470; 1987-1990) in sights for 5th all-time. A pair of former Bulldogs - Christine Wagener (2,847; 2003-2006) and Kelly Mangels (2,828; 1996-1998) - would be next on the list for 3rd and 4th all-time.
- The Bulldogs have been extremely tough on serve reception this season, allowing opponents to ace them less than one time per set (0.8).
- With their No. 20 ranking in this week’s AVCA top-25 coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs have now spent 134 consecutive weeks in the top-25 dating back to 2000.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will start the MIAA slate all over with the locations flipped the second time around, starting next Wednesday (Oct. 21) at 8th-ranked Emporia State. Truman dropped a 3-1 decision to ESU in Kirksville on Sept. 16.
Then, on the weekend, Truman will host 7th-ranked Washburn (3-0 WU win on Sept. 18) on Friday (Oct. 23) evening and Fort Hays State (3-1 Truman win on Sept. 19) on Saturday (Oct. 24) night.