The Braves finished the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic with a record of 2-2 last weekend in Bellevue, Neb. Ottawa was defeated 3-1 by (RV) Indiana University Kokomo and 3-1 by Valley City State University on Friday. OU bounced back on Saturday, taking a 3-1 win over (RV) Loyola University New Orleans and defeated (RV) Dakota Wesleyan University 3-0.

In the four matches last weekend, Ottawa had 200 kills, a .219 attacking percentage, 189 assists, 22 service aces, 253 digs, and 35 team blocks.

Ryleigh Sander and Radaisy Valdez were named KCAC Setter and Attacker of the Week for their efforts in OU's four matches last week. Valdez earned the honor for the second straight week. Sander, a freshman setter from Gardner, Kan., had 105 assists and 21 digs in four matches last weekend in Bellevue, Neb. She averaged 26.2 assists per set and seven assists per match. Valdez, a junior middle blocker from Bani, Dominican Republic, had 59 kills, a .495 attacking percentage, five digs and 16 blocks in four matches last weekend in Bellevue, Neb. She averaged 14.75 kills per match and 3.9 kills per set.

Through nine matches this season, Ottawa is averaging 13.2 kills per set, 12.4 assists per set, 2.1 blocks per set, 1.4 service aces per set, and 16.09 digs per set. The Braves have a .229 attacking percentage.

Ottawa is ranked 48th in the NAIA in kills per (13.2), 27th in attacking percentage (.229), 13th in assists per set (12.4), 26th in solo blocks (22), 47th in block assists (96), 36th in total blocks (70), 35th in blocks per set (2.1), 50th in points (553), and 22nd in points per set (16.8).

Thursday is the 10th meeting between Ottawa University and Missouri Baptist University. OU is 1-8 against the Spartans and MBU is on a two match winning streak against the Braves. Ottawa's victory over MBU came on March 22, 2021 in Wilson Field House. The Braves defeated, then no. 5, Missouri Baptist 3-0 (31-29, 25-16, 25-18). The first meeting between Ottawa and Missouri Baptist happened at the NAIA Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa on Dec. 1, 2015. MBU won the match 3-1 (19-25, 16-25, 28-25, 22-25).

Radaisy Valdez leads the Braves with 129 kills. She is averaging 3.9 kills per set. Valdez is also leading the team in blocks with 24. She is averaging 0.7 per set. Ryleigh Sander is OU's leader in assists (211). In the Braves' 5-2 offense, she is averaging 6.3 assists per set. Sander also leads the team in service aces (15). Jadore Hayes is the team's leader in digs (151) and is averaging 4.5 digs per set.

Missouri Baptist University is 8-2 to start the 2023 season and are ranked no. 7 in the NAIA. The Spartans won six straight matches to start the season before falling 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-17). MBU won its next two matches, defeating no. 7 Viterbo 3-0 and Grand View 3-1. The Spartans were then defeated 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-17, 26-24) by no. 2 Corbin University on Aug. 26.

Through 10 matches this season, MBU is averaging 12.89 kills per set, 12.2 assists per set, 1.93 blocks per set, 1.87 service aces per set, and 13.37 digs per set. The Spartans have a .250 attacking percentage.

Missouri Baptist is ranked 20th in the NAIA in kills (490), 27th in kills per set (12.8), 50th in total attacks (1,232), 19th in attacking percentage (.250), 19th in assists (465), 16th in assists per set (12.2), 39th in service aces (71), 28th in service errors (85), 43rd in receptions (699), 25th in block assists (117), 30th in total blocks (74), 47th in blocking errors (12), 23rd in points (634.5), and 25th in points per set (16.7).

Gabi Jakubowska leads the team in kills (133) and is averaging 3.5 kills per set. Maiana Coelho is MBU's leader in assists (373). She is averaging 10.3 kills per set. Maria Hanusik is the team's leader in service aces with 17. Liz Van Houwelingen is Missouri Baptist's leader in digs with 93. She is averaging 3.3 digs per set. Sara Klunder leads MBU in blocks (36) and is averaging 0.9 blocks per set.