The William Woods University volleyball team is back in action on Wednesday night as they host AMC rival Missouri Baptist University. First serve for the match - presented by Columbia Orthopedic Group – is set for 7 p.m.
Matchup
The Owls come into Wednesday's AMC matchup in a third place tie with Park University at 11-4. WWU is 18-15 overall on the year. The Spartans come into Anderson Arena in second place in the AMC at 12-2. MBU is 28-2 overall and ranked 13th in the nation.
Last Time Out
William Woods suffered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-7, 25-15) setback at the College of the Ozarks on Oct. 16.
Sarah Wehmeyer posted 23 assists for WWU on the night, with
Kristen Bauer adding 10 kills.
Extended Break
Wednesday's game marks the first match in 11 days for the Owls. This past weekend the team took part in a fundraising event at the Kansas Speedway.
Against Ranked Teams
Wednesday's game is the fourth time this season William Woods will face against a top 25 NAIA opponent. The Owls are 0-4 against teams currently in the top 25. WWU suffered a pair of 3-0 losses to no. 3 Columbia College, but held their own against the other two currently-ranked teams. William Woods battled then-unranked no. 25 Park in a tough 3-1 (26-28, 23-25, 25-20, 21-25) loss on Sept. 18 and nearly pulled off an upset on the road at no. 13 Missouri Baptist on Oct. 2 falling 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-21, 26-24, 16-18).
AMC Winning Season
At 11-4, William Woods has guaranteed itself its first winning season in the AMC since 2009 when they finished with a school record 13 conference wins. This is the fifth straight year that the Owls have finished at .500 or above in AMC play.
National Rankings
As a team, William Woods ranks in the top 35 of the NAIA in five different categories. The Owls rank eighth in total digs (2,043), 17th in digs/set (17.77), 32nd in total blocks (211), 33rd in total assists (1,202) and 34th in total kills (1,327).
The Owls have three players ranked in the top 45 of the NAIA across five different categories. Senior libero
Amanda Henley ranks eighth in total digs with 588, 16th in digs/set with 5.35 and 42nd in service aces with 42. Senior setter
Sarah Wehmeyer ranks 13th in total assists with 1,063. Freshman
Emily Becker rounds out the trio ranking 31st in total kills with 362.
AMC Leaders
The Owls are the top team in the AMC in total digs (2,043) and digs/set (17.8).
Senior libero
Amanda Henley leads the AMC in total digs (588) and digs/set (5.4).
A Look At Missouri Baptist
The Spartans come into the match 28-2 overall on the season and are 12-2 in the AMC. Both losses came against no. 3 Columbia College.
Missouri Baptist ranks third in the NAIA in total service aces landing 232. MBU ranks 17th in hitting percentage (0.264), 18th in kills/set (13.31) and 20th in total kills (1,411).
Individually, the Spartans are led by outside hitter Maddy Hammack with an AMC-leading 406 kills. Setter Ally Krus ranks third in the conference in assists with 1,029.
Defensively, MBU ranks fifth in the league in digs/set at 13.6. They are led by the 3.8 digs/set pace of Molly DeClue.
