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ST. JOSEPH, Mo – Missouri Western is set to play three matches this week, including two against conference foes Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist this weekend. The Griffons also play against No. 18 ranked Truman State Wednesday night at MWSU Fieldhouse.
The Griffons sit at 3-2 in the MIAA and 5-8 overall, and are coming off a 3-2 split win against Lindenwood on the road. They are led by their dynamic duo in
Erica Rottinghaus and
Jessie Thorup, who have a combined 291 kills so far this season. Rottinghaus averages 3.02 kills per set with Thorup averaging 2.69.
Also playing well for the Griffons is junior
Amanda Boender, who has 56 total blocks (an average of 1.1 a set) and freshman
Kelsey Olion, who has come on strong lately, posting double-digit kills in two of the past three matches.
About Truman State: The Bulldogs are 8-5 to start the year and are coming off two straight victories. They are led by junior Allie Brak, who leads the team with 173 kills and is third with 114 digs. Brak's average of 3.39 kills per set also leads the team. Emilee Walters have averaged a block a set and is fourth on the team with 99 kills. The Bulldogs return to MWSU Fieldhouse for the first time after leaving the MIAA and joining the GLVC.
About Missouri Southern: The Lions ended a 38-match losing streak earlier and the season and sit at 3-8 to start the year. They are coached my first-year coach Rachel Kirkman, who was an assistant last season. Junior Katie Politte and sophomore Payton Graves lead the team. Each have played well throughout the beginning of the 2013 season with Politte garnering a team-high 154 kills. Graves has a team-high 29 blocks and is second on the team with 88 kills.
About Southwest Baptist: The Bearcats are 1-2 in the conference and 8-4 overall. Since winning five straight matches, they have lost two of their past three. Nikki Madoch leads the team with 106 kills with an average of 2.41 kills per set. Jordan Nebalek has a team-high 1.45 blocks per set. Also helping out Southwest Baptist is McKinley Chelsea, a sophomore that is second on the team with 83 kills and 94 digs.
Up Next: After this week, the Griffons continue to battle through the MIAA as they take on Emporia State at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. After that, they head down to Joplin, Mo. to play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. There, the Griffons will play Southwestern Oklahoma State, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and East Central.
