MATCH 7: SBU BEARCATS (6-4, 1-1 MIAA)
at #13 TRUMAN BULLDOGS (9-2, 2-1 MIAA)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 • 7:00 PM
PERSHING ARENA • KIRKSVILLE, MO
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/truman/wvball/
M8: vs MISSOURI WESTERN
GRIFFONS (5-6, 1-2 MIAA)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 • 7:00 PM
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/sbuniv/wvball/
M9: vs NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS (5-6, 1-2 MIAA)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 • 2:00 PM
MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/sbuniv/wvball/
Live Video (All matches): http://www.b2livetv.com

LIVE STATS: TSU | MWSU | NWMSU

LIVE VIDEO (courtesy America One)

GAME NOTES: SBU | TSU | MWSU

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats prepare for a trio of MIAA opponents this week, starting with a trip to Kirksville to face the Truman Bulldogs, then hosting the Missouri Western Griffons and Northwest Missouri State Bearcats this Friday and Saturday.

The Bearcats picked up their first conference win last week, in a 3-0 sweep of Nebraska-Omaha. The win was the program's first against the Mavericks, as well as the first sweep of an MIAA team since 2007.

Junior Ashley Jurgensmeyer continues to lead the Bearcats, with an average of 3.54 kills per set, placing her second among MIAA leaders and in the top 50 in the nation. Her .360 hitting percentage ranks ninth in the league.

Setter Brianna Wallace has a chance by season's end to surpass Chelsea Kenney's school record of 3,906 assists. Wallace currently has 368 assists on the season (9.44/game), and 3,221 over her career, just 685 behind Kenney.

Defensively, the SBU has three players averaging more than 2.5 digs each set, led by senior Marcy Greenwade (3.74 digs/set), followed up by newcomers Alyx Glover (2.59) and Britni Reed (2.51)

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 39-72. Currently, the Bearcats' 6-4 mark is tied for the best start by SBU during the Richardson era.

Former Bearcat Ben Briney is in his second season at Truman, after posting a 24-13 record in his first year as a head coach.

Cory Frederick enters his second season as the Griffon head coach. Under Frederick's tenure, Missouri Western improved from a 4-win campaign in 2008, to an 11-22 record last season.

Jessica Rinehart was named Northwest Missouri head coach last spring, after five seasons as head coach at Augsburg College (Minn.).

The Bearcats have struggled against all three of their upcoming opponents, holding a combined record of 18-123.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Truman will host the Bearcats as the 13th-ranked team in the nation, and riding a two-game winning streak. One of the biggest strengths for the Bulldogs is their front line, as Truman is ranked 15th in the nation with 2.45 blocks per set. Megan Sharpe (1.15 blocks/set, 26th) and Emily Briseno (1.06, 46th) are among the nations leaders. Sharpe also boasts a .385 hitting percentage, 25th-best in all of Division II.

Before they take on SBU, the Griffons of Missouri Western will head into their game this week against Pittsburg State riding a two-game losing streak. Juniors Alexandra Behnke (1.00 blocks/game), and Britny Pearl (4.62 digs/game) lead the Griffon defense, while Kelli Sicner (2.55 K/game) heads up the attack.

Northwest Missouri State currently sits eighth in the MIAA standings after a 1-2 start to conference play. The green Bearcats' Laira Akin is one of the national leaders in assists, with 9.85 per set, ranking her 46th. Junior Alex Hanna is one of Akin's favorite target, piling up 122 kills to date (3.13 per set).