The Ottawa University women's volleyball team continues its postseason run on Friday, Nov. 13, when the No. 3-seeded Braves face No. 2 seed Bethel College in the KCAC Tournament Semifinals. The match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at McPherson College in McPherson, Kan.
Ottawa enters the semifinal matchup with a 14-10 overall record after defeating No. 6 seed Sterling College in straight sets on Tuesday night. The Braves are making their first appearance in the KCAC Tournament Semifinals since 2023
Ottawa KCAC Tournament History: Ottawa has an all-time record of 46-20 in the KCAC Tournament. The Braves have won 10 KCAC Tournament Championships. Ottawa is making its first KCAC Tournament Semifinal appearance since 2023. Friday's match will be the eighth meeting between Ottawa and Bethel in KCAC Tournament history. Ottawa has a record of 1-6 against Bethel in the KCAC Tournament. The Braves' lone KCAC Tournament victory over the Threshers came on Nov. 13, 2004, when Ottawa defeated Bethel in straight sets, 30-24, 30-23, 30-27. The last KCAC Tournament meeting between the two teams was Nov. 12, 2024, when Bethel defeated Ottawa 3-0.
Ottawa Braves (14-10): Ottawa enters Friday's semifinal matchup having won eight of its last nine matches. The Braves finished KCAC regular-season play with a 10-3 record, earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The Braves advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Sterling College on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Wilson Field House. Ottawa has won eight of its last nine matches, with its only loss during that stretch coming against Bethel on Nov. 7.
Ottawa is averaging 12.00 kills, 11.17 assists, 16.70 digs, and 2.40 blocks per set. The Braves have recorded 1,080 kills, 1,005 assists, 1,503 digs, and 216 total blocks this season. The Braves have been one of the top blocking teams in the NAIA this season. Ottawa ranks ninth nationally in blocks per set (2.40) and 50th in total blocks (216).
Ottawa Players to Watch:
Bailee Nickel leads the Braves with 277 kills, averaging 3.15 kills per set. She also has 277 digs, 39 total blocks, and 18 service aces. Nickel leads Ottawa with 315 points this season.
Campbell Stark has been a force at the net for Ottawa. She has 218 kills, a .329 hitting percentage, and a team-high 123 total blocks. Stark averages 1.37 blocks per set and has recorded 24 solo blocks and 99 block assists.
Kira Cherry has 170 kills and 63 total blocks. Cherry is averaging 1.91 kills and 0.71 blocks per set.
Ciara Gray has recorded 147 kills, 84 digs, 27 blocks, and 17 service aces.
Madison Brauner and
Makela Martinez have directed the Ottawa offense this season. Brauner has 435 assists, averaging 4.89 per set, while Martinez leads the team with 441 assists, averaging 4.90 per set.
Carson Schuman leads Ottawa defensively with 401 digs, averaging 4.46 digs per set. Schuman also has 65 assists and 18 service aces.
Bethel College Threshers (14-8, 11-2 KCAC): Bethel enters the KCAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed after finishing conference play with an 11-2 record. The Threshers have won four consecutive matches, including their regular-season finale against Ottawa on Nov. 7.
Bethel is averaging 12.35 kills, 11.64 assists, 16.49 digs, and 1.76 blocks per set. The Threshers are hitting .198 as a team and have recorded 1,000 kills, 943 assists, 1,336 digs, and 143 total blocks. In KCAC play, Bethel averaged 13.21 kills per set and hit .229. The Threshers also averaged 12.44 assists, 17.73 digs, and 1.74 blocks per set in conference matches.
Bethel Players to Watch: Cameron Offerle leads the Threshers with 340 kills, averaging 4.20 kills per set. Offerle is hitting .222 and has recorded 233 digs and 29 service aces. Dylan Cochran is second on the team with 186 kills, averaging 2.33 per set. Cochran has also recorded 239 digs, 33 total blocks, and 29 service aces. Alayna Vines has 170 kills and leads Bethel with 88 total blocks. Vines is hitting .276 and averages 1.09 blocks per set. Mari Phillips has 121 kills and 44 total blocks while hitting .182. Dalaina Schutte directs the Bethel offense with 768 assists, averaging 9.48 assists per set. She also has 166 digs and 23 service aces. Abby Koontz leads the Threshers defensively with 325 digs, averaging 5.08 digs per set.
Ottawa vs. Bethel Series History: Bethel leads the all-time series against Ottawa, 62-36. Friday's matchup will be the 99th meeting between the two programs. The Braves have enjoyed several successful stretches against the Threshers, including a 17-match winning streak from 2011 through 2022. Ottawa swept Bethel in 13 of those 17 victories. Ottawa's last victory over Bethel came on Oct. 11, 2022, when the Braves defeated the Threshers 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23) in North Newton, Kan. Bethel has won the last four meetings between the programs, including two five-set victories in 2023 and 2024 and four-set victories in 2025 and 2026.
Earlier This Season – Nov. 7, 2026: Bethel defeated Ottawa 3-1 (27-25, 17-25, 27-25, 25-16) on Nov. 7 at Wilson Field House in the final regular-season match for both teams. .
Ottawa Statistical Leaders vs. Bethel (Nov. 7):
Bailee Nickel: 22 kills, 16 digs, .241 hitting percentage.
Campbell Stark: 14 kills, .433 hitting percentage, four total blocks.
Una Grbic: Nine kills, .474 hitting percentage.
Kira Cherry: Six kills, three digs.
Rilyn Conard: Six kills, three block assists.
Madison Brauner: 31 assists, eight digs.
Makela Martinez: 22 assists.
Carson Schuman: 19 dig.
Katie Bertrand: Nine digs. Ottawa finished the match with 63 kills, 60 assists, 66 digs, and five team blocks. The Braves hit .273, while Bethel recorded 69 kills and hit .357. For Bethel, Cameron Offerle led the Threshers with 23 kills and 11 digs. Dylan Cochran finished with 20 kills and 10 digs, while Mari Phillips added 12 kills. Dalaina Schutte directed the offense with 62 assists.
