The Braves won their second straight KCAC match, defeating Southwestern College 3-0 on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House. OU won its 32nd straight match against the Moundbuilders and has not dropped a set to Southwestern in 10 straight matches.
Through 15 matches this season, Ottawa is averaging 12.4 kills per set, 11.7 assists per set, 2.1 blocks per set, 1.02 service aces per set, and 18.6 digs per set. OU has a .190 attacking percentage.
The Braves are ranked 51st in the NAIA in total attacks (2,464), 51st in assists per set (11.7), 36th in digs (1,181), 15th in digs per set (18.4), 12th in solo blocks (52), 44th in block assists (196), 20th in total blocks (150), 15th in blocks per set (2.3), and 20th in blocking errors (33).
Radaisy Valdez leads OU in kills per set (3.2),
Madison Brauner is the Braves' leader in assists per set (6.2),
Kenzie Kuxhaus is Ottawa's leader in digs per set (6.03), and Valdez is OU's leader in blocks per set (1.03).
Saturday's match is the 85th meeting between Ottawa University and Bethany College. The Braves lead the series 50-34, are on an 11 match winning streak against the Swedes, and have won three straight matches in Lindsborg. The last time OU lost to Bethany was on Oct. 4, 2017 in Lindsborg. BC won the match 3-2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-21, 22-25, 9-15). OU has not dropped a set in six matches against the Swedes. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Nov. 3, 1979. OU won the match 2-1 (7-15, 15-9, 15-9).
Bethany's coach is former OU NAIA All-American Ayona Tharps. She is in her first season at the helm of the Swedes program. Tharps was the first volleyball student-athlete in Ottawa history to be a named a three-time NAIA All-American. In addition, Tharps was a two-time KCAC Player of the Year (2019, 2021), four-time First Time All-KCAC (2018-2021), three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-West Central Region (2019-2021), and AVCA All-West Central Region Honorable Mention (2018).
Bethany College has an overall record of 5-9 and a KCAC mark of 0-2. Bethany is on a four match losing streak with losses on Sept. 21 to Stephens College (3-0) and Culver-Stockton College (3-1), Bethel College (3-0) on Sept. 25, and Evangel University (3-0) on Sept. 28.
The Swedes are averaging 10.9 kills per set, 12.2 assists per set, 1.04 blocks per set, 1.4 service aces per set (1.4), and 18.4 digs per set. Bethany has a .140 attacking percentage.
BC is ranked 27th in the NAIA in assists per set (12.2), 17th in digs per set (18.4), and 28th in ball handling errors (7).
Ashlynn Gehring leads Bethany in kills per set (2.5), Katie Voss is BC's leader in assists per set (5.3), Michelle Acevedo Ortiz leads the Swedes in digs per set (6.04), Antonette Carochi leads the team in blocks per set (0.44).
