Volleyball | 9/12/2011 12:59:00 PM
McPherson, Kan. – Coming off their second straight weekend tournament, the McPherson College volleyball team puts its perfect conference record on the line with a week of matches featuring Kansas Wesleyan University, Friends University and Sterling College.
The Bulldogs host Kansas Wesleyan (5-5, 1-0) at 7 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday before hitting the road on Thursday to play defending KCAC champion Friends University (8-5, 1-0) at 7 p.m. On Saturday, McPherson hosts a triangular featuring Sterling College (5-5, 0-1) and Central Christian College (1-2, 0-0). MC begins play at 2 p.m. against Sterling and faces Central Christian at 6 p.m.
McPherson enters the week with 2-7 overall and 1-0 in league play following a 1-3 weekend the Hastings College Quality Inn Classic and a victory against Southwestern College (3-0). The Bulldogs lone victory over the weekend came against Dakota State (S.D.), 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-12).
Senior middle hitter Kory Hiebert (Goessel, Kan.) led the Bulldogs with 49 kills last week, including a season-high 15 in MC’s five set loss to College of the Ozarks on Saturday afternoon. Defensively, senior libero Brooke Wedel (Moundridge, Kan.) is leading the team with a 5.2 digs per set average. She set a career high with 39 digs against College of the Ozarks.
Scouting Kansas Wesleyan University (5-5, 1-0 KCAC)
- KWU enters the week with a 5-5 overall record and 1-0 mark in KCAC play after defeating Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.), York College (Neb.), Avila University (Mo.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan University over the weekend in Kansas City, Mo.
- The Coyotes are riding a five-match win streak and have not dropped a set during that time. KWU opened the season with a five-match losing streak, as the Coyotes opened the season with a road trip to California.
- The Coyotes are led by junior middle hitter Kelsey Boyles who has 64 total kills so far in 2011, averaging 2.1 kills per set. In addition to Boyles, senior outside hitter Jordyn Rahlf and senior middle hitter Leah Keller are averaging at least 2.0 kills per set.
- As a team, KWU features a .182 hitting percentage and averages 11.27 kills per set. The Coyotes tallied a season-high 47 kills and .308 match hitting percentage in their three-set sweep of Oklahoma Wesleyan on Sept. 10.
- Head coach Fred Aubuchon is in his third season with the Coyotes. Prior to KWU, Aubuchon spent five seasons at Hastings College (Neb.)
Scouting Friends University (8-5, 1-0 KCAC)
- Much like Kansas Wesleyan, Friends enters the week riding a five-match win streak. The Falcons currently own an 8-5 overall record and 1-0 conference mark after knocking off the University of Saint Mary, 3-0.
- In 2010, the Falcons cruised to the KCAC championship with an 18-0 conference record, including a pair of 3-0 sweeps of McPherson. On the season, Friends only dropped seven sets in league play. The Falcons season ended in the first round of the NAIA tournament when they fell to Oklahoma City University.
- FU currently ranks 21st nationally with a .283 hitting percentage
- Senior hitter Carrie Koch leads the Falcons with 116 kills (2.7 kills per set), while ranking fifth on the squad with a .315 attack percentage. Junior setter Tasha Miller enters the week ranked second in the conference with 255 assists (6.1 per set)
- Head coach Martin Ayin is in his eight season at the helm of the Friends University volleyball team. He owns a 114-123 career record at Friends and is 80-31 over the past three seasons
Scouting Sterling College (5-5, 0-1 KCAC)
- Sterling enters the weekend triangular with McPherson and Central Christian with a 5-5 overall record and 1-0 conference mark. The Warriors have lost their last five matches, including a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Kansas Wesleyan. SC opened the season with five straight wins, four of which were at home.
- Sterling finished 2010 with an 11-21 overall record and 7-11 conference mark. They were 0-2 against the Bulldogs last season.
- The Warriors are led by sophomore outside hitter Sara Steria and freshman outside hitter Carly Cramton. Steria owns 65 kills on the year, while Cramton has 57.
- As a team, SC is hitting .155 on the season
- Head coach John Harding is in his second season with the Warriors and owns a 11-21 record entering the season
Scouting Central Christian College (1-2, 0-0 MCAC)
- Central’s lone victory of the season came on Sept. 6 against Nebraska Christian, 3-0.
- The Tigers are 0-1 against KCAC opponents in 2011. The loss came on Sept. 3 to Southwestern College.
- Senior middle hitter Alayna Howell has led the team with 26 kills through Sept. 11, while sophomore setter Audra Howell leads the team with 32 assists.
- Head coach Mick Burrill is in his fourth season with the Tigers.
