MATCH 24: SBU (9-14, 2-5 MIAA) vs #8 EMPORIA STATE (19-2, 6-1)
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009 • 7:00 PM
MATCH 25: SBU at at MISSOURI SOUTHERN (10-10, 3-4 MIAA)
YOUNG GYMNASIUM • JOPLIN, MO
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009 • 7:00 PM
MATCH 26: SBU at PITTSBURG STATE (15-9, 5-5 MIAA)
JOHN LANCE ARENA • PITTSBURG, KS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009 • 2:00 PM

SBU NOTES | ESU NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats (9-14, 2-5 MIAA) conclude their three game homestand with a match Tuesday with Emporia State. This weekend, SBU is at Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State, hoping to snap their three-game losing streak. The Bearcats rank fifth in the MIAA in blocks (1.95 per set). Ashley Jurgensmeyer ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.333) and is tied for seventh in blocks per set (0.9). Jurgensmeyer and Alex Smith have virtually identical season totals in kills (257 to 255). Brianna Wallace is ninth in assists with an average of 9.1 per set. Marcy Greenwade is the team leader in digs with 290 (3.37 per set) with Smith close behind at 267 (2.90 p/s).
 
THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Bearcat head coach Kelly Richardson is in her third season guiding the Bearcats. She's improved SBU's win total from eight her first year to 13 a year ago, and is on pace to raise the bar even higher this season.

Emporia State is coached by Bing Xu, who's in his fifth year. ESU leads all-time 36-1 vs SBU. The Missouri Southern Lions are guided by Chris Willis, in his sixth year. In fifty previous meetings, MSSU holds a 42-8 advantage. Pittsburg State is coached Ibraheem Suberu who's in his tenth season. PSU leads 34-15 all-time against SBU.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Emporia State is a perennial national power and the defending conference champions after a 34-4 season in 2008. Katelyn Kaiser (.366 attack pct.), Arica Shepard (MIAA best 4.27 kills per set) and Ting Liu (11.69 assists per set -1st in MIAA) led the ESU attack. Missouri Southern's top players are Jeanna Feldman (3.51 kills per set) and Elin Skei (10.47 assists/set). Pittsburg State sits just outside of the national rankings and is led by setter Emily Vosseler (11.01 assists - 3rd in MIAA) and outside hitter Pamela Cartagena (4.12 kills per set - 2nd in MIAA).