FULTON, Mo.—The William Woods University volleyball team will look to win its fifth straight game in front of the home crowd on Tuesday night, as the Owls host No. 16-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University. First-serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Owls (6-5), are coming off an impressive 4-0 sweep at the Avila University Tournament this past weekend, where the team defeated Johnson & Wales in four sets (3-1), Avila University in three (3-0), Bethel College in four (3-1) and fellow American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe, Benedictine University at Springfield, in three (3-0).
The team totaled 175 kills during the two-day tournament, and were led by freshman
Abbi McKnelly, totaling a team-high 36 kills, an attack percentage of .250, while also collecting 40 digs. Junior
Emily Becker was second on the team, having 30 kills and an attack percentage of .288, while senior
Kristen Bauer and sophomore
Stephanie Davis added 29 and 26 respectively.
Freshman setter
Brittney Engelbrecht was a factor on the offensive and defensive sides of the net, totaling 133 assists (9.50 a/set) and 39 digs, while senior libero
Abbie O'Mara led the Owls with 60 digs.
"I think this past weekend was a good one for us," said head coach
Monica Herschelman. "We fought back after some early deficits in matches and learned how to start fast, but the freshman are really starting to get an overall feeling of the ball. Kristen (Bauer) and Emily (Becker) did a good job this weekend, while
Lauren Rodewald came off the bench and had a great match against Benedictine University at Springfield (13 kills)."
She added, "It's nice to get everybody else in and see what type of role they could play in critical situations, when called upon."
On the season, McKnelly leads the Owls with 108 kills in 11 matches played, while coming in third on the team in digs, having 88. Becker and Bauer are tied with 92 kills apiece, while freshman
Abby Ferguson has totaled 63 kills on the season.
Engelbrecht has totaled 387 assists on the season, which ranks her in 23
rd in the NAIA and she also has earned 122 digs, which is second-best on the team, as she trails O'Mara by 25 (147).
On Tuesday, the Owls will be looking for redemption against a MidAmerica Nazarene (3-6) team, which swept the Owls last year in straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-20).
Coming off a 27-4 overall record in 2013 (9-0 Heart of America Athletic Conference) and an appearance at the 34
th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championships, the Pioneers have had its struggles to start the 2014 season.
After defeating Haskell Indian Nations (3-0) and Friends University (3-0) in straight sets to open the year, MNU dropped four straight matches against the likes of Doane (3-2), No. 24-ranked Davenport University (3-1), Ashford University (3-1) and (RV) Hastings University (3-1).
The team was able to snap the four-game skid, as they won a five-set thriller against No. 13-ranked Dordt College, but since then, has fallen to No. 5-ranked Northwestern College (3-0) and Jamestown College (3-1).
On the season, MNU is led by 2013 NAIA All-American honorable mention selectee Zoraida Heredia, as the senior has collected a team-high 99 kills, while also earning an attack percentage of .275. Emily Hester is second on the team, having 63 kills, while Kylie Pfaff has added 57.
The team has totaled 391 assists on the year between the duo of Becca Powers and Rachel Kater, as they have 170 and 165 respectively. Defensively, the Pioneers have totaled 444 digs, with Tashley Snyder leading the defensive group, earning 98 digs.
"They are a young team, as they lost their All-American setter and right side hitter, whom made the biggest impacts last season," said Herschelman. "We are just going to try to use what we can on our side of the net, win plays, get them down early and hopefully have a great crowd inside Anderson Arena to be nice and loud, as they help us get another win on the board." Â
A win on Tuesday for the Owls would give the team its second win on the season against a ranked team, while also giving them plenty of momentum heading into the Ashford University Tournament this Friday, where the team will face St. Ambrose University and No. 5-ranked Northwestern College.
"It is a big week for us, as the wins we got at Avila gave us some confidence," Herschelman said. "With MNU coming here, that is a big game, as we need to protect our home court and finish the match. Then, going into the weekend and seeing Northwestern again, they are No. 5 in the nation for a reason, but we are looking forward to the challenge and learning what we used last time and going up from there."
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com on Tuesday night for a full recap and score from Anderson Arena.
