SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist is set for their final regular-season trip to Arkansas this week when they take on Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello this weekend. The Bison will first face the Muleriders on Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. before turning around to take on the Blossoms on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m.
Boasting a 6-1 record in Great American Conference play, OBU sits tied atop the standings with Arkansas Tech; Oklahoma Baptist has the best overall record in the conference at 17-4. Southern Arkansas, who owns an 0-7 conference record, currently sits in 11th while riding an 11-match losing streak. Arkansas-Monticello sports a 2-5 mark against conference foes and currently sits in ninth.
The Bison boast one of the top offenses in the country, ranking in the top five nationally in both total kills (1,040) and total assists (961). Averaging 13.2 kills/set, OBU is led by
Malia Leatherland's 3.5 average, the second-best mark in the GAC.
Hayley Daniel is second on the team with 2.9 kills/set. At setter,
Rylen Moore is averaging 6.9 assists/set while operating in a 6-2 formation;
Kaylee Buell has handed out an average of 4.4 assists/set.
Defensively, OBU is again one of the nation's leading lights, ranking in the top six in total digs with 1,399.
Diana Carranza leads the Bison, averaging 5.1 digs/set, followed by Daniel and Leatherland at 2.9 and 2.8 digs/set. Since a career-high eight total blocks against Southern Nazarene to start October,
Julia Brinton has led the way at the net for OBU with 1.1 blocks/set. Opponents are swinging just .142 against the Bison this season.
Southern Arkansas averages 10.8 kills/set while hitting .129, and are led by Seven Powers with an average of 2.8 kills/set. On the defensive side, Alana Perez has a team-high 4.2 digs/set.
Arkansas-Monticello ranks just ahead of SAU offensively, averaging 10.9 kills/set and hitting .134. Leslie Polanco leads the Blossoms, and ranks fifth in the GAC, with 3.3 kills/set. Jessica Mahan leads UAM's defensive effort with 4.7 digs/set.
