Ottawa is 16-8 overall and has a record of 5-1 in the KCAC. The Braves are tied for second in the KCAC in the loss column with Kansas Wesleyan University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Bethel College leads the KCAC with a record of 7-0.
OU went 1-1 on its Nebraska trip last Friday. The Braves fell 3-0 to no. 18 Bellevue University but rebounded to take a 3-2 win over Grand View University.
Through 24 matches this season, Ottawa is averaging 12.6 kills per set, 11.6 assists per set, 2.3 blocks per set, 1.03 service aces per set, and 15.8 digs per set. The Braves have a .210 attacking percentage.
Ottawa is ranked 23rd in the NAIA in kills (1,139), 43rd in kills per set (12.6), 22nd in total attacks (3,325), 38th in attacking percentage (.210), 27th in assists (1,044), 37th in receptions (1,714), 10th in block assists (328), ninth in total blocks (209), 12th in blocks per set (2.3), 38th in ball handling errors (28), and 25th in points (1,441).
Radaisy Valdez is ranked seventh in the NAIA in kills (356), 10th in kills per set (4.1), first in attacking percentage (.453), ninth in total blocks (97), 23rd in blocks per set (1.1), fourth in points (424), and fifth in points per set (4.9).
Radaisy Valdez leads the Braves in kills with 356 and she is averaging 4.1 kills per set. She is also leading OU in blocks with 97 and is averaging 1.1 blocks per set.
Ryleigh Sander is the team's leader in assists with 541 and is averaging 6.01 assists per set.
Jadore Hayes is Ottawa's leader in digs with 402. She is averaging 4.4 digs per set.
Ottawa continues to get good play from its freshmen this season with eight appearing in varsity matches.
Chaney Barth: 199 kills, 48 digs, 32 blocks |
Carson Schuman 227 digs, 8 service aces | Bailey Nickel: 2 digs, 1 kill |
Ryleigh Sander: 540 assists, 154 digs, 21 service aces, KCAC Setter of the Week |
Blythe Manson: 97 kills, .226 attacking %, 24 digs, 44 blocks |
Kira Cherry: 140 kills, 41 digs, 77 blocks |
Emily Park: 1 dig |
Madison Brauner: 411 assists, 8 service aces, 154 digs.
Wednesday is the 94th meeting between Ottawa University and Friends University. Friends leads the series, 52-41 but the Braves are on a six match winning streak against the Falcons. The last time OU lost to Friends was on Oct. 12, 2019 in Wichita. OU fell 3-1 (19-25, 18-25, 25-20, 16-25) to the Falcons at the Garvey Center. Ottawa won the meeting last season on Nov. 5, 2022 in Wichita, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-17). The first meeting between the two teams happened on Sept. 21, 1977 in Wilson Field House. Ottawa won the match 2-1 (12-15, 15-5, 15-10).
Friends University has an overall record of 8-19 and are tied for 12th in the KCAC with a record of 1-7. The Falcons are 2-5 in the Garvey Center this season and enter Wednesday's match coming off a 3-2 win over York University on Oct. 14 in Wichita.
The Falcons are ranked 10th in the NAIA in errors (577), 45th in total attacks (3,140), 11th in receptions (1,904), 15th in reception errors (172), and sixth in ball handling errors (48).
Grace McClintock leads Friends in kills with 217 and is averaging 2.3 kills per set. Zoey Tauanu'u leads the team in assists with 406. She is averaging 5.08 assists per set. Antonia Perier is the team's leader in digs with 469. She is averaging 5.2 digs per set. McClintock is also leading the team in blocks with 31. She is averaging 0.3 blocks per set.
