North Carolina-Pembroke (0-0) vs. Oklahoma Baptist (0-0)
Friday, Sept. 2, 10:00 a.m.
St. Petersburg, Fla. (McArthur Center)
Kentucky State (0-0) vs. Oklahoma Baptist (0-0)
Friday, Sept. 2, 5:30 p.m.
St. Petersburg, Fla. (McArthur Center)
Watch Live ($) | Live Stats
Match Notes |
SHAWNEE – A pair of unfamiliar opponents await the Lady Bison as they open up the 2016 edition of Oklahoma Baptist Volleyball in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday. Oklahoma Baptist first squares off with the University of North Carolina – Pembroke at 10 a.m., live from the McArthur Center, before meeting Kentucky State later in the evening at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Eckerd College Invitational.
With much of last year's starters graduated, a new cast will look to make their mark from the outset. Last year's leading setter,
Kynnedy Myers, will look to perform at the same level she in her freshman season, one in which she dished out 1,404 assists for an average of 9.12 assists per set. Sophomore running mate
Nicole Fleitman, who featured on the right side a year ago, will look to take the next step after accounting for 207 kills last year.
Shekinah Sharpe and
Sierra VeraCruz, the only seniors on a squad that features 11 newcomers, featured primarily in the backcourt last year. Sharpe amassed 2.15 digs per set, while VeraCruz accounted for 56 total digs in limited action.
The Braves will serve as the first opponent of the day. Last season, UNCP head coach Ellen McGill's first at the helm, the Braves went a disappointing 8-24. Senior Caroline Pridgen racked up 224 kills on the right side in 2015, and it's likely she will feature even more prominently following the departure of leading offensive threat Nicole Matthews.
Kentucky State will likely present a greater challenge to the Lady Bison after winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2015 with a record of 25-13. Micah Rogers, who led the Thorobrettes with 305 kills and was second on the team with 294 digs, returns for her senior season as Kentucky State looks to win 20 or more matches for a fourth straight year.
Oklahoma Baptist concludes the Eckerd College Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 3 when they play New Haven and Eckerd College. The match against New Haven starts at 12:30 p.m., while the Lady Bison's match against the hosts from Eckerd College begins at 7:30 p.m.
