FULTON, MO. -- The William Woods University volleyball team seeks its first win of the year as they host Lindenwood University-Belleville in its 2013 home opener on Tuesday night. First serve for the match, presented by White Dog Promotions, is set for 7 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Owls spent the Labor Day weekend in the Cornhusker State as they went winless in the Bellevue University Labor Day Classic, dropping WWU's record to 0-5 on the year 2013 season.
William Woods dropped the first match of the weekend to Concordia University (Neb.) 3-2 (25-20, 26-24, 17-25, 26-28, 10-15) on Friday afternoon. The Owls suffered a 3-0 (24-26, 22-25, 15-25) to Baker University to wrap up the first day of the Classic.
Just like Friday, the Owls dropped both matches of the Classic on Saturday by losing a pair of 3-1 games to Ottawa University (19-25, 19-25, 25-21, 20-25) and John Brown University (20-25, 14-25, 28-26, 18-25).
Matchup
WWU is still searching for its first win of the 2013 season after dropping each of its first five games. Though the Owls have yet to win a match, they have been very close, as they have dropped five sets by three points or less.
Kristen Bauer enjoyed a great first week of the season, as she collected 56 kills in five games to go along with 42 digs. The junior collected her first career double-double against Ottawa University.
Lindenwood University-Belleville stands at an even 3-3, and have won its last two matches coming into Tuesday's affair. This past weekend the Lynx went 2-2 at the Missouri Valley College Tournament, picking up wins against Southwestern University and Avila University.
Home Opener Déjà vu
This will be the second consecutive season that William Woods has hosted Lindenwood-Belleville for its home opener.
Last year the Owls defeated LU-B 3-1 (25-12, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14) on Aug. 30 in the 2012 home opener. Emily Becker collected a then career-high 15 kills to lead WWU to victory. Emma Aschenbrenner was just one kill behind Becker's pace with 14, and Kristen Bauer posted 12 kills against the Lynx.
Big First Week
After the first week of the season, junior Kristen Bauer leads the team in kills with 56.
Bauer posted her first career double-double against Ottawa University on Saturday morning by collected 17 kills and a career-high 12 digs.
After never recording a double-digit dig game in her first two years at William Woods, Bauer has collected back-to-back double-digit dig performances entering Tuesday's game.
Doing Well Against The Hometown Team
Sophomore Emily Becker is a native of Belleville, Ill., the same town that Lindenwood University-Belleville is located.
In two games against the Lynx, Becker has totaled 25 kills and digs to go along with 20 blocks. Last season the Belleville, Ill., native returned home and collected her first career triple-double (10 kills, 10 digs, 14 blocks) against LU-B on Sept. 26.
Dynamic Duo
Kristen Bauer and Emily Becker have combined for a total of 111 kills through the first five games of the season. Bauer leads the team in kills with 56, while Becker has amassed 55 kills. The duo is responsible for 53 percent of the team's kills.
Knowing Your Opponent – Lindenwood University-Belleville
The Lynx stand at an even 3-3 on the year, after posting a 9-18 season in its first year competing as a NAIA team. LU-B has collected wins against Robert Morris-Springfield, Southwestern University and Avila University, while dropping contest to Missouri Baptist University, Haskell University, and St. Mary University.
Lindenwood-Belleville returns its top hitter from a year ago in Stephanie Cathcart. The 6-0 sophomore tallied 242 kills during her freshman year. She collected a total of 14 kills against the Owls in two games last season.
Taylor Boyer returns as the team's top defensive player, returning her team-high 380 digs from a season ago. Boyer, an Ashford University transfer, posted 45 digs against William Woods last year, including a career-high 30 digs during last year's home opener.
Get Social With The Owls
In addition to the traditional outlets, fans can keep up with the latest news about William Woods Athletics via our social media channels. Checkout our Facebook page (Facebook.com/WWUOwls) and twitter feed (@WWU_Owls).
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full recap of this and every game during the 2013 season.
