HENDERSON, Tenn.—The William Woods University volleyball team will look to win its fifth game out of its last six outings on the court, as the Owls travel to American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe Freed-Hardeman University on Saturday. First-serve is set for 2 p.m.
The Owls (11-9; 2-0 AMC), are coming off a 1-1 effort at the Evangel University tri-match, as the team extended its winning streak to four games on September 23
rd, defeating Peru State in four sets (25-17, 25-27, 24-26, 21-25), but saw it snapped in the nightcap, as host and No. 20-ranked Evangel University defeated WWU in three (16-25, 17-25, 15-25).
Despite the loss against a tough top 25 team, WWU has still won four out of its last five games. During that span, the team has totaled 205 kills and are led by freshman
Abbi McKnelly, having 48, while junior
Emily Becker has chipped in 41, senior
Kristen Bauer has added 36 and freshman
Abby Ferguson has contributed 35.
Freshman setter
Brittney Engelbrecht has totaled 165 assists and 65 digs, while libero
Abbie O'Mara continued to lead the team in the dig department, having 83.
On the season, the Owls rank seventh in the NAIA in total kills (943) and McKnelly has been pacing the team on the offensive side of the net, earning 204 kills and an attack percentage of .223. Becker and Bauer have added 182 and 180 kills respectively, while Ferguson is fourth on the team with 138.
WWU is eighth in the NAIA in total assists (847), due in large part of the effort from Engelbrecht, totaling 727 assists, which is fourth best in the NAIA. Defensively, the Owls have moved back up to second in the NAIA in total digs (1,408), as they trail St. Catharine by just 115 digs.
Leading the way has been O'Mara, with 358 digs, which is 13
th best in the NAIA. Engelbrecht has added 268 digs, while Becker (154), McKnelly (146),
McKenna Hisel (141) and Ferguson (123) have eclipsed the 100 dig mark on the season.
William Woods has also totaled an impressive 144 service aces, which ranks them third overall in the NAIA. Becker has been a threat all season while serving, totaling a team-high 32, while
Cierra Merz and Ferguson have totaled 24 aces each.
On Saturday, the Owls will be looking for redemption against a Freed-Hardeman (5-6; 1-1 AMC) team, that eliminated the Owls from the AMC Tournament Quarterfinals last year, as the Lady Lions escaped Anderson Arena with a five set (21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24, 12-15) upset win.
Like WWU, Freed-Hardeman has just started AMC play, as they picked up its first conference win on September 18
th against Harris-Stowe (3-0), but fell to No. 19-ranked Missouri Baptist University in straight sets (3-0), the following night.
On the season, the Lady Lions are led by Allie Moss, having 146 of the teams' 355 kills and holds an attack percentage of .216. Emily Humphry and Sara Denton have combined for 282 of the teams' 320 assists, while Humphry also leads the team in digs, earning 161.
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com tomorrow night for a full recap and score from Henderson, Tennessee.
