SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist heads to Kearney, Nebraska, for the Loper Pre-Season Invite on Sept. 6-7. The two-day event will see OBU face Augustana (S.D.) and Adams State on Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. before turning around to face host Nebraska-Kearney and Findlay on Saturday at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Malia Leatherland, a second-team All-Great American Conference selection a season ago, headlines the seven returners from the 2018 squad after averaging 3.33 kills/set and 2.73 digs/set as a sophomore. As a team, OBU averaged 13.0 kills/set in 2018, but a new-look offense featuring a new setter and right-side after the graduations of
Hayden Blair and
Nicole Fleitman offers the potential for the Bison to reach new levels.
On the back row,
Kelsi Chavez returns after averaging a team-high 4.23 digs/set as libero last season. However, junior college transfer
Diana Carranza is expected to push for playing time. At the net,
Brecken Roquemore is back on Bison Hill for her junior season after averaging .85 blocks/set, including a team-best eight solo blocks.
Augustana went 10-18 last season, including a 5-15 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Vikings averaged 12.0 kills/set last year and will be led onto the floor this year by redshirt sophomore Izzy Sommers who averaged 1.74 kills/set. Sophia Terwilleger is Augustana's top defensive returner after posting 2.63 digs/set last year.
Adams State posted a 12-14 record in 2018, going 9-9 against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition. Averaging 12.7 kills/set a season ago, the Grizzlies return leading scorer Hannah Goddard (2.89 kills/set). Mackenzie Swanson will lead the defense after averaging 4.06 digs/set as a sophomore last year.
Host UNK enters 2019 ranked No. 11 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll after going 33-3 last year with a 16-2 record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Julianne Jackson will assume a greater role this year after leading all returners with 2.27 kills/set and 3.94 digs/set.
Findlay went 24-7 in 2018, including 16-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Shelby Kin is expected to lead the Oilers after averaging 2.99 kills/set last year. Olivia Morrison will lead the back row after averaging 2.14 digs/set as a sophomore.
