MATCH 27: SBU BEARCATS at #4 CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES (24-3, 10-1 MIAA)
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING • WARRENSBURG, MO
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009 • 7:00 PM

MATCH 28: SBU BEARCATS vs #16 NEBRASKA-OMAHA MAVERICKS (17-6, 7-3 MIAA)
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2009 • 2:00 PM

SBU NOTES | UCM NOTES | UNO NOTES

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats (10-16, 3-7 MIAA) finish out their three-game road trip this week as they travel up the road to Warrensburg, to face off against the fourth-ranked Central Missouri Jennies, before heading back home for a match against 16th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha. The Bearcats are led by a trio of attackers, each averaging over 2.5 kills per set. Ashley Jurgensmeyer leads with 290 kills (2.84/set), while freshman Alex Smith is just off her pace with 283 kills (2.77/set). Senior Kelsey Stewart (239 kills, 2.52/set) has moved into fourth place on SBU's all-time kills list, and needs only 33 more to move past Sharla Goetze for third.
 
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.
   
Phil Piontek is in his first season as head coach of the Jennies, after 23 years as an assistant at UCM. Piontek has continued the program's success, with a 24-3 record and No. 4 national ranking.
   
Mavericks coach Rose Shires is in her twentieth season at Omaha, where she has compiled a 387-215 overall record, including a national championship in 1996. The all-time series has been dominated by the Jennies, with a 43-1 lead over SBU, while Nebraska-Omaha holds a 4-0 edge.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Central Missouri has a pair of underclassmen leading the MIAA in blocks, with freshman Bradye Peniston and sophomore Paula Harris. Each are tied for the conference lead with 1.10 blocks per set, and an identical 87 assisted and 14 solo blocks. Jennie Rachel Fister leads the league with 5.38 digs per set. Allie Huffman is the team leader in kills, averaging 3.3 per set.
   
The Mavericks have a dangerous young server in freshman Natalie Ebke. Ebke leads the MIAA with 49 service aces, 15 more than the next highest total. Ellen Thommes leads the league in hitting percentage (.431), with 295 kills and 48 errors over 573 attacks.