Â
SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist opens up the 2017 season Friday at the Bahama House Classic in Daytona Beach, Florida, taking on Barton College at 11 a.m. Central. The Lady Bison will face host school Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at 6 p.m. Central in the final match of the day.
Â
The match against the Bulldogs will be the inaugural contest for OBU as official members of NCAA Division II in any sport. Oklahoma Baptist's official membership begins Sept. 1.
Â
The Lady Bison have just nine returners from the 2016 season, but several were key contributors a season ago. Senior
Cadyn Laing set a program record with 140 total blocks last season and looks to anchor the front line for OBU.
Â
Junior
Nicole Fleitman paced the Lady Bison with 416 kills last season, averaging 2.97 kills per set as a sophomore. Fleitman is also the leading defensive returner, picking up 147 digs last year.
Hayden Blair returns for her second season on Bison Hill after posting 124 assists in 2016.
Â
Friday's early match will mark the season opener for Barton as well. The Bulldogs top offensive returner is Allie Cullins, who finished last season with a 1.79 kills per set average. Anjelica Acevedo returns as setter after a productive season that featured a 10.22 assists average. Courtney Wiseman controlled the net with 73 total blocks last season, and libero Riley Bane returns after averaging 4.65 digs per set.
Â
OBU will once again face fresh competition in the nightcap, as Embry-Riddle faces the Lady Bison in the Eagles' season opener. McKenna James averaged 1.85 kills per set last season and paced the team with 99 total blocks. Maile Spencer collected 347 digs a season ago to lead all returners and Alyssa Rudd averaged 4.01 assists per set.
Â
The Lady Bison will face Missouri S&T and Lynn on Saturday to wrap up the Bahama House Classic.
Â
