MATCH 15: SBU vs #20 TRUMAN STATE
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 • 7:00 PM

MATCH 16: SBU at MISSOURI WESTERN
LOONEY COMPLEX • ST. JOSEPH, MO
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 • 7:00 PM

MATCH 17: SBU at NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
BEARCAT ARENA • MARYVILLE, MO
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 • 5:00 PM

BOLIVAR, MO -- The SBU Bearcats (5-9) continue their string of nationally-ranked MIAA opponents when they host the #20 Truman Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Then it's on to northwestern Missouri for weekend matches with Missouri Western on Friday and Northwest Missouri State on Saturday. Sophomore Ashley Jurgensmeyer is ninth in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.314) while junior Brianna Wallace is also ninth in assists with 8.29 per set. It's a tight race for the team in kills, with Kelsey Stewart and Alex Smith tied at 2.47 per set and Jurgensmeyer close behind at 2.36 per set. Smith leads the team with 3.25 digs per set while the Bearcats are fifth in the league with 15.55 per set.
 
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.

Truman is led by Ben Briney, who's 10-5 in his first season as head coach, after serving as the Bulldog assistant since 2005. Briney received both his Bachelor of Science (2001) and Masters of Education (2004) from Southwest Baptist.

Missouri Western is led by Cory Frederick who's also in his first season after five successful seasons at Park University. Anna Tool is in her fourth season guiding the Northwest Missouri Bearcats.
    
Truman leads the all-time series with SBU 41-2, as do Missouri Western (41-8) and Northwest Missouri (36-7).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Bulldogs are led by freshman Megan Sharpe, who ranks in the top ten in the conference in hitting percentage (.349), kills (3.24 avg/set), and points (3.77 avg/s). Casey Bruno is fourth in digs at 4.32 per set.
    
Missouri Western is led by Kelli Sicner, who currently is fourth in kills, with 3.73 per game, and fourth in points at 4.11 per set. Madison Benton is eighth in assists (9.2 per set) and Amanda Bates leads in aces (0.59).
    
Northwest Missouri State is led by junior Paige Spangenberg, who ranks second in the MIAA in digs with 4.98 per game, as well as Sara Falcone who's tied for fifth in blocks (1.0 per set).
    
All three of this week's opponents have fallen to the current undefeated MIAA league leaders in #3 Emporia State and #6 Washburn.