CANTON, Mo. -- The William Woods University volleyball team will start the 2013 season on the road as they travel to Culver-Stockton College to take on a very experienced Wildcat squad. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Owls, who are coming off their first 20-win season since 2009, will once again be relying on a young core that returns the team's top three hitters from a season ago. Two of which garnered all-AMC honors during the 2012 season.
Sophomore Emily Becker looks to build off a spectacular freshman season that saw her amass 434 kills, 303 digs, and 122 blocks, earning her First-Team All-AMC honors. Becker also etched her name in the William Woods record book during her first year on campus, as the 434 kills were the second-highest kill total in a single season.
Two-year starter Kristen Bauer returns to the front line as the most experienced player on the squad. The junior has earned All-AMC Honorable Mention honors in back-to-back years, and looks to step up to the first-team after a stellar sophomore season that saw her collect 363 kills. Â Â
Culver-Stockton will provide a challenging test for WWU out of the gate as the Wildcats are a senior laden bunch that won 17 games last year. Though overall C-SC posted a losing record, 17-18 overall and 4-5 in the Heart if America Athletic Conference, it was the highest win total since the 2004 season.
The Wildcats return four players that earned All-HAAC honors last year, led by second-team selection Ruthie Wheelock. The 6-3 middle hitter collected 317 kills last year, to go along with 63 blocks both numbers led the team. Joining the senior in the starting lineup will be a pair of All-HAAC honorable mention member, senior setter Brooke Carroll and senior outside hitter Jacklyn Strouse.
One does not have to go far back into the record books to discover the last time that these two played each other, as they met up last season at the Ashford Invitational.
The Owls bested the Wildcats 3-1 on the last day of the invitational. The trio of Emma Aschenbrenner, Bauer, and Becker collected 39 of the team's 55 kills, with Bauer leading the way with 15.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full recap of this and every game during the 2013 season.
