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Opponent: #22 Northwest Missouri
Time: Friday, September 23rd; 7:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Opponent: Missouri Western
Time: Saturday, September 24th; 7:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Bolivar, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats are set to open up MIAA play this weekend when they host Northwest Missouri on Friday, followed by a match against Missouri Western on Saturday.

The Coaches
Caira Dortch will begin her third season as the head coach at Southwest Baptist, and holds a career coaching record of 15-44 (8-32 MIAA). Prior to soming to SBU, Dortch previously coached at Drury and Evangel.

Amy Woerth enters her 5th season as the head volleyball coach at Northwest Missouri. Woerth holds a career coaching record of 53-68, including 31-43 in MIAA play.

Marian Carbin enters her 4th season as the head volleyball coach at Missouri Western. Carbin holds a career coaching record of 59-33, including a 37-19 mark in the MIAA. Prior to being named the head coach, Carbin spent the previous four years as the top assistant at MWSU.

Scouting the Opponents
Northwest Missouri enters the week 12-0, and are currently ranked #22 in latest AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Bearcats are led by Maddy Bruder who is averaging a team high 3.87 kills/set, while on the block Alexis Williams averages 1.29 blocks/set to go along with 2.08 kills/set. Sarah Dannettell handles all the setting duties for NWMSU (9.91 assists/set), while defensively Olivia Nowakowski averages a team high 4.18 digs/set.

Missouri Western enters the week 8-4 having won four straight at the GAC/MIAA Crossover Tournament. The Griffons are led offensively by Rachel Friedrichs who averages a team high 3.09 kills per set, and is one of 5 Griffons to average over 2.10 kills/set. Setting duties belong to Kortney Blaufuss who averages 11.24 assists/set, while defensively Kayla Ruff averages a team high 3.82 digs/set.

Scouting the Bearcats
Southwest Baptist enters the week 3-10 on the season, and are coming off of a 3-0 loss to William Jewell. The Bearcats are led offensively by Dana Neal who averages a team high 2.71 kills/set, and is third on the team with 2.53 digs/set. Setting duties are split between Serena Mar (4.24 assists/set) and Brea Freeman (3.31 assists/set), while Bailey Baumann averages a team high 4.18 digs/set.