The Braves start the 2023 season where it ended 2022, at no. 22 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches Poll. The Braves are receiving 179 points in the poll.
Radaisy Valdez and
Jadore Hayes were named to the 2023 KCAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Team. Valdez played in 36 matches, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2022. She was a First Team AVCA West Central Region selection and was named First Team All-KCAC. Valdez finished the season with 421 kills, a .321 attacking percentage, eight assists, one service ace, 42 digs, and 110 blocks. Hayes earned Second Team All-KCAC honors in 2022. She finished the year with 620 digs, 40 service aces, 126 assists, and 10 kills.
For the eighth straight year, Ottawa has been selected by the KCAC coaches to win the conference. The Braves received 164 points and nine first place votes.
Ottawa returns nine players from its 25-11 and 12-0 2022 team:
Haylee O'Meara,
Brenna Diller,
Kennedi Wyrick,
Jadore Hayes,
Radaisy Valdez,
Lillian Holden,
Brittan Lee, and
Jazlyn Westmoreland.
The Braves have 10 newcomers, including seven freshmen:
Chaney Barth (Fr.),
Carson Schuman (Fr.),
Ryleigh Sander (Fr.),
Blythe Manson (Fr.),
Akayla Kador (Fr.),
Jontara West (Sr.),
Jazmyne Dorton (Sr.),
Kira Cherry (Fr.),
Reile Payne (Jr.),
Jane Ertl (Fr.)
MidAmerica Nazarene University is ranked no. 11 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches Top 25. The Pioneers finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 30-2 and a HAAC mark of 18-1, tying for Park University for first in the HAAC. The Pioneers defeated Park 3-2 in the HAAC Tournament Championship Match.
The Pioneers return Second Team NAIA All-American middle blocker, Mikayla Johnson (Sr.) and Honorable Mention NAIA All-Americans, outside hitters Cassidy Crist (Sr.) and Lucie Maceckova (Sr.).
Ottawa has an overall record of 22-32 against MidAmerica Nazarene University. The Braves are on a two match winning streak against MNU. OU won on Oct. 12, 2018 at Grand View University 3-1 and in Wilson Field House on Sept. 10, 2020, 3-1.
The Braves have lost 10 straight matches in Olathe against the Pioneers. The last time OU won on the road in Olathe against MNU was on Sept. 13, 1999. OU won the match 3-1; 15-12, 15-3, 11-15, 15-10.
