Ottawa fell 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 27-25) to NCAA Division II Rockhurst University on Tuesday evening. The Braves had 27 kills, a .115 attacking percentage, 23 assists, one service ace, 42 digs, and nine team blocks.
Through 20 matches, Ottawa is averaging 12.7 kills per set, 11.8 assists per set, 2.2 blocks per set, 1.05 service aces per set, and 15.4 digs per set. The Braves have a .220 attacking percentage.
Ottawa is ranked 22nd in the NAIA in kills (959), 36th in kills per set (12.7), 38th in total attacks (2,717), 31st in attacking percentage (.220), 26th in assists (885), 42nd in assists per set (11.8), 44th in receptions (1,421), 50th in solo blocks (41), 17th in block assists (248), 15th in total blocks (165), 23rd in blocks per set (2.2), 31st in points (1,203), and 49th in points per set (16).
Radaisy Valdez leads the Braves in kills with 314. She is averaging 4.1 kills per set. Valdez is also leading Ottawa in blocks with 89, averaging 1.1 per set.
Ryleigh Sander is OU's leader in assists (458), averaging 6.1 per set in the Braves 6-2 offense.
Jadore Hayes leads the team in digs with 304. She is averaging 4.05 digs per set.
Radaisy Valdez was named NAIA and KCAC Attacker of the Week for her efforts in OU's victories over Southwestern College and Bethany College. She is the third OU women's volleyball player to earn NAIA Player of the Week honors. This is her fourth time this season of being named KCAC Attacker of the Week. She finished the week with 34 kills in straight-set wins. She averaged 5.67 kills per set. Valdez recorded a .673 attacking percentage with 49 total attacks and only on blemish.
Saturday is the 96th meeting between Ottawa University and Tabor College. The Braves lead the series, 49-46. OU is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against the Bluejays. OU won the meeting last season, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17) over Tabor in Wilson Field House on Oct. 15. In the last meeting in Hillsboro between the two teams, Tabor took a 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 13-15) victory over the Braves on Oct. 16, 2021. The first match up between Ottawa and Tabor happened on Nov. 5, 1977. Ottawa won the match 2-0 (15-10, 15-3).
Radaisy Valdez is ranked first in the NAIA in attacking percentage (.470), sixth in kills (314), eighth in kills per set (4.1), 17th in solo blocks (19), ninth in block assists (70), fifth in total blocks (89), 18th in blocks per set (1.1), fourth in points (377), and fifth in points per set (5).
The Braves had seven freshman play at the varsity level this season. That is the most under head coach
Melissa Blessington.
Chaney Barth: 173 kills, .176 A%, 43 digs, 24 blocks |
Carson Schuman: 191 digs, six assists, six service aces |
Ryleigh Sander: KCAC Setter of the Week, 457 assists, 20 service aces, 127 digs |
Blythe Manson: 83 kills, .273 A%, 21 digs, 35 blocks |
Kira Cherry: 109 kills, .104 A%, 35 digs, 59 blocks |
Emily Park: 1 service ace, one dig |
Madison Brauner: 343 assists, 5 service aces, 131 digs.
Tabor College is 10-7 overall and 2-2 in the KCAC. The Bluejays snapped their two match losing streak on Wednesday night with a 3-1 road victory over Sterling College.
Through 17 matches, Tabor is averaging 11.05 kills per set, 9.9 assists per set, 1.2 blocks per set, 1.4 service aces per set, and 17.05 digs per set. TC has a .141 attacking percentage.
Tabor is ranked 48th in the NAIA in digs per set (17.05) and sixth in ball handling errors (39).
Sammie Saunders leads the Bluejays in kills with 113. She is averaging 3.1 kills per set. Emma Rhodes is the team's leader in assists with 541. She is averaging 8.7 assists per set. Kenna Brandes leads the team in digs (317) and is averaging 4.8 per set. Brindelyn Schneider is the Bluejays' leader in blocks with 38. She is averaging 0.6 per set.
