The Omnibus

Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Sports

The Lady Bearcat volleyball team's 3-5 record is a sign of hope and progress for the struggling program. Senior Chelsea Kinney and the rest of the Lady Bearcats will travel to Maryville to take on Northwest Missouri State today.

On October 8, 1999, a win against Ouachita Baptist put the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats Volleyball Team to 9-9, they stood at .500.
Volleyball has not been .500 since that moment in time, until 2007.
After 1,140 miles of traveling, two tournaments and many sleepless nights and tired days; the SBU Lady Bearcats stand at 3-5.
To get to this record, SBU broke the streak of never being over .500 with a victory over arch rival Drury University, Angelo State and a victory in three games against Permian Basin who had already knocked out #22 Rockhurst University.
The winds are changing on the John Q. Hammons Court.
New head coach Kelly Richardson has already picked up not just her first but second and third win of the season. In the MIAA team standings SBU is not ranked in the bottom in any category.
This has not taken place in at least three years.
Their 3-5 record may look similar to last years 2-5, but early season records are just that, early season records.
The real meat and potatoes will be the first MIAA match of the year against the 8-1 Pittsburg State Gorillas.
SBU went 2-2 during the Missouri Southern State University Invitational in Joplin.
Wins were recorded against Angelo State and Drury University with losses coming from University Missouri St. Louis and University of Central Oklahoma.
Defensive Specialist Kinsey Palmer was nominated to the All-Tournament Team.
The front row hitters consisted of sophomores Kelsey Stewart, Trish Hammerschmidt and Brittni Jessen totaled for 141 of the 219 kills recorded over the tournament.
After the 500 mile journey to The Texsa Women's Invitational in Denton, the Lady Bearcats went 1-3 with a win against Permian Basin and losses to Harding University, University of Central Oklahoma and Texas Women's University.
Senior Setter Chelsea Kenney was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
SBU had a season high .438 hitting percentage in their three game sweep against Permian Basin.
No opponent this season has hit that well against Southwest Baptist.
The Lady Bearcats will play their next game at 11 a.m. today at the Northwest Missouri State University tournament.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools