SHAWNEE – For the third straight weekend, Oklahoma Baptist (3-6) will face strong competition, this time in Pensacola at the Walk-On's University of West Florida Invitational.
OBU has four games, three of which will be first-time contests: No. 17 Lewis, No. 8 West Florida and Spring Hill. The last match comes against UNC Pembroke, a team OBU played in 2016.
The green and gold are 3-6 due in part to quality competition and newcomers seeing the court. Eight have played at least 30 sets, four of which hadn't played a collegiate game until two weeks ago.
Currently, here are the players that rank highly within the Great American Conference for OBU:
Jill Leslie: Has the second-best attack mark in the GAC (.337)
Abrey Galt: Her 5.79 assists per set are eighth-best
Maci Langford: Ranks fourth with a 4.68 digs average
Avery Hellmuth: Is eighth in the league in blocks (0.85) and ninth in points (3.10)
As a team, OBU is first in digs (17.65) and second in kills (13.06) and assists (11.71).
Now, a look at the Bison's opponents this weekend:
Lewis University |
Schedule |
Roster | 2021 Record: 26-7
The Flyers (5-3) have traveled all over the last two weeks. In Hawaii, Colorado and now Florida. They've played five ranked teams and have two wins, and nearly a third in a five-set loss to No. 11 Western Washington. Here are their top players:
Bella Ray: Leads the team in kills (3.0), points (4.07) and blocks (1.38)
Lauren Stenman: Her 8.73 assists average ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference
Ally Hickey & Megan Schlechte: Both average over 3.55 digs per set
West Florida |
Schedule |
Roster | 2021 Record: 35-2
A year ago, UWF lost to the eventual national champion, Tampa, in the NCAA South Regional Finals aka "Sweet 16." The Argonauts' 35 wins were the most-ever in a season. So far in 2022, UWF has posted a 6-2 record including a win against then-No. 3 ranked Western Washington on Sept. 3. Here are West Florida's top contributors so far:
Avery Rodgers: Leads the team with 83 kills (2.96 per set)
Taylor Vaneekeren: Is averaging 0.32 service aces per set and 10.23 assists
Meg Brackhan: Tops on the team in digs (3.63)
Camila Vazquez: Has notched 32.0 blocks (1.07 p/s) so far
Spring Hill |
Schedule |
Roster | 2021 Record: 30-6
Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Badgers are 3-4 to start the year, which includes a five-set loss to UWF. During the two previous full seasons ('19, '21), Spring Hill attained a 60-9 record and made the NCAA Tournament each time.
Kassandra Fairly: Leads the team in kills (82) and points per set (3.43)
Jessica Fairly: Is handing out a team-high 9.15 assists per set
Mikayla Boyer: Has a team-best 5.22 digs per set average
Jaylyne Bell: Her 22.0 blocks and 0.88 average are tops on Spring Hill
UNC Pembroke |
Schedule |
Roster | 2021 Record: 23-11
The Braves (3-5) have won three of their last four matches heading into the weekend. A season ago, UNCP lost in the Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinal round. Here are UNCP's top performers:
Shannon Skryd: Has a team-high 97 points and 2.97 kills average
Katie Pressley: Leads the team with a 6.97 assists per set
Elise Martin: Paces UNCP with a 3.90 digs average
Brianna Warren: Her 35.0 blocks and 1.21 average are team-bests
For more information on OBU Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter (
OBU_Volleyball) and Instagram (
OBU_Volleyball).
