FULTON, Mo.—The William Woods University volleyball team will play its final home regular season matches of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the Owls host a tri-match against No. 19-ranked Evangel University at 12 p.m. and Friends University at 4 p.m.
The Owls (19-13; 6-3 AMC), made quick work of Harris-Stowe State (4-20; 0-8 AMC), on Thursday night, as the team defeated the Hornets in straight sets (25-15, 25-14, 25-12).
In the match, the Owls totaled 42 kills and a season-high attack percentage of .417 on the night. Leading the way was freshman
Abbi McKnelly and senior
Kristen Bauer totaling a team-high seven kills.
Rachel Frabotta posted a career-high six kills and an attack percentage of .625, while
Stephanie Davis added six kills and an attack percentage of .556.
Freshman
Brittney Engelbrecht totaled 31 assists and tied libero
Abbie O'Mara with a match-high 13 digs.
Prior to its match against Friends University at 4 p.m., the team will honor its four seniors, which are
Kristen Bauer,
Melanie Bonk,
Abbie O'Mara and
Baily Peterson.
Bauer, a St. Charles, Missouri, native, is currently the all-time leader in kills, having 1,295 in her four year career. She broke the record in the Ashford University Tournament, against Cardinal Stritch, where she was able to surpass the total of 1,173 kills, set by Lauren Fleming (2008-2011).
The senior is the all-time record holder with 3,768 total attacks, while also totaling 338 digs and 158 blocks in 522 games. She is a three-time All-AMC honorable
mention team honoree and has been named to the Academic All-AMC team.
Bonk, a Hampshire, Illinois, native, has posted 211 kills in her career, 33 digs and 182 blocks. Her best season with William Woods came during her sophomore season, where she earned 117 kills and 75 blocks. In 2012, she was named to the Academic All-AMC team, while last year, she earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Peterson, a Cedarburg, Wisconsin, native, has played in 72 games in three seasons with the Owls, totaling 393 assists and 405 digs. In her freshman season, Peterson saw action in 134 sets, totaled 355 assists and 289 digs in her rookie campaign.
After sitting out the 2012 season, Peterson returned to the court in 2013 and since then, she has totaled eight kills, 38 assists and 116 digs. Also in 2013, she was named to the Academic All-AMC team and earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.
O'Mara, a St. Peters, Missouri, native, has had a stellar four-year career with William Woods, as in 517 matches played, the senior has totaled 34 kills and 2,128 digs, which ranks her third all-time. Her best season with WWU, came during the 2013 year, where she set the school record for the most digs in a single season (863).
Her 863 digs, ranked her first in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) and second in the NAIA, which earned her AMC Libero of the Year and All-AMC first team honors. O'Mara has also landed on the Academic All-AMC team.
Up first for the Owls is No. 19-ranked Evangel University (19-9; 5-2 Heart of America Athletic Conference) and this will be the second meeting between the two teams' on the year, as in its previous match-up, the Crusaders defeated the Owls in straight sets (16-25, 17-25, 15-25), back on September 23
rd.
Evangel, however, will enter the match against WWU struggling as of late, as they have dropped three straight matches, falling to No. 18-ranked Jamestown (3-1), No. 9-ranked Viterbo (3-0) and Missouri Valley College (3-2).
On the season, Evangel is led by Micah Cribbs-Guiot, totaling a team-high 237 kills, while Morgan Kensinger has added 232 and Haley Watson has contributed 219 kills and 126 digs.
Chole Hadley (435) and Maddie Baumann (417) have combined for 852 of the teams' 964 assists, while defensively, the Crusaders have totaled 1,963 digs and are led by Morgan Smith, having 487 digs on the year.
Then, at 4 p.m., the Owls will take on Friends University (20-12; 12-1 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) and the Falcons come to Fulton, Missouri, winning three out of its last four games.
On the season, Friends is led by Morgan Riley totaling 246 kills and owns a team-high attack percentage of .282. Lorielle Slates has added 206 kills, while Emma Feierabend has totaled 192 kills on the year.
Setter Hayley Young has 962 totaled assists, while defensively, the team is led by Bailey Burnett, having 605 digs.
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com tomorrow night for a full recap and score from Anderson Arena.
