Bruin Athletics Weekend Preview: Oct. 21-23
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three Bellevue University athletic teams – volleyball, men's soccer, and women's soccer – will be in action this week. Volleyball plays three home matches including a pair against North Star Athletic Association foes while both men's and women's soccer travel for NSAA matchups on the road. Today, BUBruins.com gives you a quick preview of this weekend's action.
Volleyball (20-8, 7-2 NSAA): vs. Valley City State | Friday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Mayville State and College of the Ozarks | Saturday, Oct. 22
The volleyball team hosts Valley City State on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in an NSAA contest and will host a triangular on Saturday, Oct. 22. Bellevue plays NSAA foe Mayville State at noon and College of the Ozarks at 4 p.m. The Comets and Bobcats will square off with each other at 2 p.m.
Bellevue has won three-straight games overall and are on a run of 12-straight victories against unranked opposition dating back to Sept. 27. The Bruins have upped their overall record to 20-8 on the season and now stand at 7-2 in the NSAA. In defeating Peru State earlier this week BU secure their 13th-straight 20-win season.
Bellevue is currently ranked 21st in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. BU has already played each of their opponents earlier this season. The Bruins defeated all three teams – Ozarks (Sept. 10) 3-0, Valley City (Sept. 23) 3-0, and Mayville State (Sept. 24) 3-1 – last month.
Valley City State takes a 7-17 (3-5 NSAA) record into their game with the Bruins. The Vikings have struggled of late with a 1-7 record in their last eight games dating back to Sept. 30. Jaycee George has been VCSU's top defender throughout the year. She leads the Vikings and ranks 35th nationally in Total Digs (477) while ranking 42nd in Digs per Game (5.07).
Mayville State comes into the weekend 10-17 (2-6 NSAA) on the year. Most recently, the Comets snapped a six-match losing streak with a sweep over Grace University last Saturday. Mayville has a pair of individuals receiving national rankings. Stephany Wold is 20th in Hitting Percentage, swinging at .336 on the year, and 49th in Total Kills with 308. Additionally, Megan Kolness ranks 47th nationally in Total Assists with 798 on the year.
College of the Ozarks enters play with a 22-10 overall record. The Bobcats have now won 13 games in a row, having dropped just three sets during their win streak. CofO is among the top defensive teams in the country as they lead the NAIA in Total Digs and Digs per Game while also ranking in Total Blocks. They're a strong team offensively as well, ranking second in the country in Kills per Game, third in both Total Kills and Total Assists, and 18th in Assists per Game. Haley Stallings leads the nation in Digs per Game at 7.22 and ranks second in Total Digs with 809.
For those fans that are unable to make it to the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, all three BU matches over the weekend will be live-streamed via the Stretch Internet Portal. Mick Krupski will have all the play-by-play action on the Bruin Sports Network.
Kills Leaders: Pakalana Helekahi (273), Shayla Scanlan (250), Mikaylah Gillespie (236), Hope Lambrecht (219)
Digs Leaders: Taylor Holz (443), Verenice Chaparro (271), Maddie Squiers (217), Lauren Colpitts (202)
Assist Leader: Maddie Squiers (1,152)
Blocks Leaders: Mikaylah Gillespie (98), Hope Lambrecht (94), Shayla Scanlan (90)
Men's Soccer (7-6-2, 2-0-0 NSAA): at Presentation | Saturday, Oct. 22
The men's soccer team travels to Aberdeen, S.D. for a 2 p.m. NSAA fixture against Presentation College on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Bellevue has played well of late with wins in their last four matches, out-scoring their opposition by a combined 14-5 margin during their current run. That four-game win streak has seen Bellevue improve their overall record to 7-6-2 and start NSAA play 2-0-0.
In their last game Bellevue scored five goals in under 11 minutes to rally for a 5-1 victory over Jamestown. Edgar Guzman and David Goolsby each scored twice, Rob Smith added a goal and an assist, and Alejandro Pena registered three assists on the game.
With the new MRPI coming out yesterday, the Bruins improved 15 spots from No. 51 in September to No. 36 this month. To date BU has played the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation as their opposition has combined for an adjusted winning percentage of .700. The Bruins have played six teams ranked in the Top 15 of the latest MRPI; Hastings (#2), Northwestern Ohio (#4), Davenport (#5), Thomas (#12), John Brown (#13), Midland (#15).
Presentation enters the weekend with an overall mark of 3-12-0 and an 0-2-0 record in the North Star. The Saints are looking to snap a three-game losing streak today when they place Martin Luther College.
The Saints are led by Cillian Fagan and his team-leading four goals. In total, PC has 11 different players who have found the back of the net this year including five who have scored multiple goals.
The teams have met just once before with Bellevue winning that contest and owning a 1-0-0 lead in the all-time series. When the two sides met last season, Bellevue got goals from three different players en route to a comfortable 3-0 win in Aberdeen.
Goal Leaders: Rob Smith (8), Daniel Coupland (6), Andres Blanco (3), Finlay Bloodworth (3), Edgar Guzman (3), Jonas Starkus (3), David Goolsby (2), Travis Hurd (2), Scott Robson (2)
Assist Leaders: Scott Robson (8), Rob Smith (4), Alejandro Pena (3), Daniel Coupland (2), Travis Hurd (2), Finlay Bloodworth (1), JT Cronin (1), Edgar Guzman (1), Angel Jacinto (1), Marlon Vega (1)
Keepers: Ben Martin (7-6-2, 70 Saves)
Women's Soccer (8-4-1, 2-0-0 NSAA): at Presentation | Sunday, Oct. 23
The women's soccer team travels to Aberdeen, S.D. for a noon NSAA fixture against Presentation College on Sunday, Oct. 23.
The Bruins are currently on a five-game unbeaten run, going 4-0-1 during that span, having conceded just three goals. Their recent run of form has seen BU improve their overall record to 8-4-1 and open 2-0-0 in the NSAA.
Most recently, Bellevue defeated Jamestown, 3-0, on first half goals from Reyvin Hernandez, Lauren Clark, and Madison Lambert. Laurence Rodier stopped all three UJ shots on goal to earn her third – and the team's fourth – shutout of the season.
In the latest MRPI, Bellevue jumped 12 spots to No. 24 from No. 36 back in September. The Bruins' opponents adjusted winning percentage of .658 ranks third in the NAIA. BU has already played games against several top 20 teams in the latest MRPI; Hastings (#11), Kansas Wesleyan (#14), John Brown (#19),
Presentation owns an overall record of 7-4-0 but they are just 0-1-1 in the North Star. The Saints have a game tonight against Martin Luther College and are seeking their first win since Oct. 7.
The Saints have been paced by Bobbye Pendleton's nine goals and she's received support from Brittney Cusick with six goals on the season. Allison Johnston has been solid in goal with a 1.27 goals against average, 53 saves, and five shutouts to her credit.
BU and Presentation have met just twice before with both meetings coming last season. Bellevue earned a 4-0 win in Aberdeen during the regular-season and again shut out the Saints in the NSAA Tournament semi-finals, 3-0, in Jamestown, N.D. behind a hat trick from Betsy Fischenich.
Goal Leaders: Maiwut Dar (5), Madison Lambert (5), Jordyn Seidel (4), Michelle Dolder (3), Lauren Clark (2), Reyvin Hernandez (2), Kaleigh Young (1)
Assist Leaders: Reyvin Hernandez (5), Jordyn Seidel (4), Michelle Dolder (2), Kristin Hanson (2), Madison Lambert (2), Lauren Clark (1), Eliany Parra (1), Kylie Taylor (1)
Keepers: Laurence Rodier (8-4-1, 51 Saves), Bailey Petzoldt (0-0-0, 5 Saves)