MATCH 28: SBU BEARCATS (9-18, 4-11 MIAA)
vs #6 WASHBURN LADY BLUES (26-2, 14-2 MIAA)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5 • 7:00 PM

M29: vs FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS (7-20, 0-15 MIAA)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 • 3:00 PM
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO

Live Stats | Game Notes

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- With the season winding down, the SBU Bearcats have a few more chances to climb the MIAA standings, but it won't be easy, as they host #6 Washburn before taking on Fort Hays State. With one more win on the year, SBU will have reached 10 wins in three straight seasons for the first time since 1987-89.

Earlier this month, junior Ashley Jurgensmeyer broke SBU's all-time kills record, against Pittsburg State; Jurgensmeyer tied and broke the record in the fourth game of a thrilling, come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Gorillas. Jurgensmeyer now has 314 kills on the season, a team-high and third-most in the MIAA. Jurgensmeyer is looking to become the first Bearcat since Keri Franklin (1994-96) to lead the team in kills for three straight seasons.

Setter Brianna Wallace has a chance by season's end to also set a new career record. Wallace currently has 887 assists on the season (9.09/game), and 3,743 over her career, just 163 behind Chelsea Kenney's school record of 3,906 assists.

Defensively, the Bearcats are led by seniors Marcy Greenwade and Joanna Granzow. Greenwade leads the team with 4.19 digs per set, 8th-best in the MIAA. Up front, Granzow has a total of 63 blocks, the second-highest total for the Bearcats, behind Jurgensmeyer's 95 blocks. Alyx Glover (2.33), Wallace (2.13), and Britni Reed (2.07) are all averaging above two digs per game as well.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Bearcat head coach Kelly Richardson enters her fourth season, and looks to further improve a program that has won more games over the past two seasons than from 2002-2007 combined. Over her first three years, Richardson has seen six players earn All-MIAA honors, and has recorded a career mark of 42-86.

Chris Herron led the Lady Blues to their third straight 30-win season and their sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance last season. Through his first eight seasons, Washburn has won two conference titles.

Kurt Kohler is in his second season at Fort Hays State, coming from Barton (Kan.) Community College, where he was a head coach for three seasons before taking over as athletic director. Kohler has compiled an overall record of 96-71.

Washburn holds a 36-3 advantage in the series against the Bearcats, while Fort Hays and SBU are tied, 4-4 in their series, which began in 2001.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Washburn's 26-2 record is the fourth-best in Division II, and the Lady Blues rank in the top 20 nationally in a number of categories. The Lady Blues have won five straight, after a surprise five-set upset at the hands of Northwest Missouri State. Ranked second in the South Central Region, Washburn has a number of offensive threats, with five different players with at least 200 kills. Mollie Lacy has recorded 222 kills on the year, with a .361 hitting percentage (2nd in MIAA, 28th in NCAA). Libero Molly Smith anchors the back line with 5.22 digs per set, 28th-best in the country, and second in the conference.

Fort Hays has struggled in conference play this season, and is still looking for its first MIAA victory. The Tigers have dropped ten straight after sweeping the Texas-Permian Basin Tournament last month. Junior Tracie Hileman has been one of the bright spots this season for Fort Hays; averaging 3.44 kills per set, Hileman ranks second in the MIAA. Senior Whitney Liggett ranks fifth in the league, with 9.49 assists per set.