SHAWNEE—Winners of 10 of their last 11 matches, the No. 18 Oklahoma Baptist Bison have three matches this week. On Oct. 5, they host Arkansas-Fort Smith at Noble Complex for the final non-conference game of the season. Then during the weekend, OBU will travel to current first-place GAC team Arkansas Tech on Oct. 8 and Harding on the 9th.
Fans that are planning on coming to Noble Complex will have to purchase tickets online. No cash, check, or credit card sales will be available at the box office. To purchase,
click this link.
The Bison are 10-2 and 4-1 in the GAC this fall. They are also on a four-game winning streak which has been highlighted by great defensive play. Over the past four matches, the Bison have held opponents to a .085 attack percentage while also totaling 29 total blocks (2.42 p/s). Those marks have boosted the team's national ranking in those categories. OBU is 27th in DII in blocks (2.37) and 32nd in opponent hitting percentage (.128).
Offensively, the team ranks 18th in hitting percentage (.263) and 25th in assists (12.78).
Individually, there several players that rank highly.
Audrey Poupard is 13th in the country in blocks (49.0; 1.32 p/s) and is second in the GAC in hitting percentage (.355). In the GAC,
Kaylee Buell is second in assists (9.98) while
Diana Carranza sits in sixth with 15 service aces. Additionally,
Malia Leatherland checks in at No. 7 in kills (3.08) and points (3.42).
Here's a look at the Bison's three opponents this week:
Arkansas-Fort Smith |
Lone Star Conference |
Spring 2021 Record: 11-3
The Lady Lions have lost six of seven and bring a 6-8 record into Tuesday's match. Coached by Jane Sargent, UAFS was picked to finish fifth in the tough Lone Star Conference. During the spring, Sargent's team made the LSC Tournament's semifinal round while attaining an 11-3 record. This will be just the sixth matchup between the two schools. OBU has won the last two, including a five-setter on Oct. 8, 2019 on the road.
Through 14 matches this fall, UAFS ranks second in the LSC in aces (1.72) and third in blocks (2.24). However, its offense has struggled, ranking in the bottom fourth of the conference in attack percentage (.166) and kills (10.98) Here's a look at the Lady Lions' top players:
No. 1 Chyra Thompson | Her 1.0 blocks-per-set average is second-best in the LSC; Third on the team in points (111.5)
No. 3 Chloe Price | Ranks eighth in the LSC in assists (7.5)
No. 8 Hannah Holland | Is second in the LSC in aces (23), seventh in blocks (0.91) and 11th in attack percentage (.307)
Arkansas Tech |
Great American Conference |
Spring 2021 Record: 7-5
The Golden Suns have won eight straight and currently own an 11-3 and 5-0 record in the GAC. That's good for first place. Coming into the season, ATU was picked to finish third behind the Bison and Harding. During the spring, coach Kera Dukic's team posted a 7-5 record and got to the GAC Tournament Semifinal before losing in four sets to OBU.
So far this season, ATU's defense has been pretty good. It sits in third in the GAC in both opponent attack percentage (.174) and blocks (2.10). Offensively, the Golden Suns are fifth in hitting percentage (.193) and sixth in kills (11.65 p/s). Nationally, the team is tied for 30th in DII in aces per set (2.06).
Here are the key players for Arkansas Tech:
No. 6 Madison Grantham | Spring 2021 All-GAC Honorable Mention; Eighth in the GAC in digs (4.04)
No. 12 Tymber Riley | Ranks fourth in the league in points (3.60); Checks in at fifth with 3.18 kills per set
No. 15 Brianna Merkel | Two-time All-GAC Honorable Mention selection; Ranks seventh in the conference in assists (6.72)
Harding |
Great American Conference |
Spring 2021 Record: 12-1
The Lady Bisons currently hold an 8-4 (4-1 GAC) record after a 3-0 loss against Arkansas Tech last Thursday. Prior to this season, coach Meredith Fear's team was picked to finish second. The last time Oklahoma Baptist faced Harding was in the Spring 2021 GAC Tournament Final, where OBU won 3-0.
So far this season, Harding has earned multiple spots on the leaderboard, coming in second place in hitting percentage (.217), assists (12.20 p/s), kills (13.63 p/s) and service aces (1.80 p/s). They also check in at fifth for opponent hitting percentage (.186) and digs (16.17 p/s). Nationally, the team is in 27th in kills (13.63 p/s) and 47th in assists (12.20 p/s).
Here are the key players for Harding:
No. 5 Sarah Morehead | Spring 2021 All-GAC Second Team; Conference leader in assists (10.05 p/s)
No. 6 Libby Hinton | Spring 2021 All-GAC First Team; Conference leader in attack percentage (.361)
No. 10 Logan Smith | Spring 2021 GAC Player of the Year
No. 11 Skyler McKinnon | Ranks fourth in the GAC in hitting percentage (.332)
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