MATCH 34: SBU BEARCATS (11-22, 4-13 MIAA)
at #9 EMPORIA STATE HORNETS (27-4, 14-3 MIAA)
WHITE AUDITORIUM • EMPORIA, KS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009 • 7:00 PM

MATCH 35: SBU BEARCATS vs  MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS (13-18, 6-11 MIAA)
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2009 • 7:00 PM

MATCH 36 (SENIOR DAY): SBU BEARCATS vs
#21 PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS (22-10, 12-6 MIAA)
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009 • 2:00 PM

SBU NOTES

EMPORIA, Kan. -- The SBU Bearcats begin the final week of the season with an opportunity to surpass last year's win total of 13. The task will be tough as the Bearcats face two of the MIAA's top four teams. SBU visits #9 Emporia State before returning home this weekend to face Missouri Southern and #21 Pittsburg State. Sophomore Ashley Jurgensmeyer and freshman Alex Smith continue to lead the Bearcat attack, with 363 and 342 kills, respectively. The Bearcat's lone senior is Kelsey Stewart and she will be honored prior to Saturday's match with Pitt State. Setter Brianna Wallace has surpassed the 1,000 assist mark for the second straight season and has an opportunity to break the SBU single season assist record. Junior libero Lauren Noble also came close to an SBU record recently, when she recorded 37 digs against Missouri Western, just four off the record of 41 set by Keri Franklin in 1994.

COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU head coach Kelly Richardson is in her third season in Bolivar. Richardson has helped improve the Bearcats win total from eight to 13 over her first two seasons. Emporia State is coached by Bing Xu, who's in his fifth year. ESU leads all-time 37-1 vs SBU. The Missouri Southern Lions are guided by Chris Willis, in his sixth year overall and fifth with the Lions. In fifty-one previous meetings, MSSU holds a 42-9 advantage. Pittsburg State is coached Ibraheem Suberu who's in his eleventh season. PSU leads 35-15 all-time against SBU. The Bearcats fell earlier this season to Emporia and Pitt State in straight sets and defeated MSSU in four sets.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Emporia State and Pittsburg State have been two of the MIAA's hotter teams recently. ESU has won five of six recently while PSU has taken eight of their last nine. Arica Shepard (MIAA best 4.34 kills per set), Brittney Miller (.309 attack pct./3.25 kills per set) and Ting Liu (11.74 assists per set -1st in MIAA) lead the ninth-ranked ESU attack. Missouri Southern's top players are Jeanna Feldman (3.29 kills per set) and Elin Skei (10.46 assists/set). #21 Pittsburg State is led by setter Emily Vosseler (11.21 assists - 2nd in MIAA) and outside hitter Pamela Cartagena (4.08 kills per set - 2nd in MIAA).