FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University volleyball team will look to pull the upset of the year and capture its 10
th American Midwest Conference (AMC) victory on Tuesday night, as the Owls host the No. 2-ranked Missouri Baptist University. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Owls (22-11; 9-1 AMC), are coming off a 1-1 performance at its tri-match they hosted this past Saturday, as they defeated Lawrence Tech. University in straight sets (), before falling in a five set thriller () to No.-13 ranked Evangel University in finale of the tri-match.
Leading the way in the two matchers was,
Emily Becker, totaling a team-high 28 kills with a .252 attack percentage, while
Stephanie Davis collected 21 kills and a team-high .458 attack percentage. Senior
Lauren Rodewald also chipped in and recorded 20 kills.
Sophomore setter
Brittney Engelbrecht added 81 assists, while
Shelby Hinshaw gathered a team-high 27 digs in the eight sets played.
On the season, the Owls have totaled 1523 kills, which is 11th best in the NAIA and pacing the way offensively for the team has been Becker, earning 383 kills, while defensively the Belleville, Illinois native, has added 326 digs, which has helped her collect 13 double-double performances on the year.
Engelbrecht, comes in at No. 5 overall in the NAIA in assists, handing out an impressive 1,177, as the team has posted 1,333 on the year, which is good enough for 13
th best in the nation, while Hinshaw, leads the team defensively, with 400 digs.
Coming into this AMC showdown, both teams, statically are similar and is why they both sit a top in the AMC standings, with MBU in first seed and second seeded WWU. The Spartans stand in first place in the AMC in several categories, which includes kills (1550), assists (1425), service aces (270) and blocks (223.5). On the other hand, WWU is ranked second, right behind the Spartans n most of the categories, earning 1523 kills, 1333 assists, 196 blocks, while leading the AMC defensively, with 1830 digs.
This season, however, the No.-2 ranked Spartans, have been nearly unstoppable, as they have dropped just three games all season, (29-3), while staying perfect in the AMC with a 9-0 record.
MBU comes into the match-up ranked in the top ten of the nation in total kills (eighth), hitting percentage (seventh), assists (fifth) and service aces (second).
Leading the way offensively, on the season has been the St. Louis University transfer, Mallory Dillon with 418 kills, which leads the AMC and is 14
th best in the NAIA. The senior, has recorded double figure kills in the past seven games for the Spartans, while earning an attack percentage of .272.
The Spartans setter, Ally Krus comes in ranked first in the nation, averaging 11.7 assists per game, while handing out a season total of 1079. Defensively, Haley Pouliezous guides the back row for MBU, as the Libero has gathered 598 digs on the year, which sits her a top in the AMC.
Fans check back on wwuowls.com for a full recap and score from this pivotal from Anderson Arena.
