SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - A strong opening stretch has put the Spring Arbor University women's volleyball team back among the nation's Top 25.
The Cougars jumped into the first regular-season edition of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll at No. 23 after being unranked in the preseason poll. Spring Arbor was 8-2 when the rankings were compiled and added another victory Wednesday night, sweeping the University of Saint Francis to improve to 9-2 overall.
Spring Arbor has put together an impressive start against a challenging non-conference schedule. Among the Cougars' eight non-conference victories were wins over Lindsey Wilson and Midland. SAU swept Midland, which was ranked No. 20 at the time, as well as Lindsey Wilson, which was receiving votes.
Head coach
Betsy Martinez and the Cougars have won nine of its first 11 matches, which included a six-match winning streak.
Spring Arbor has featured a balanced attack through the opening 11 matches.
Isabelle Kirkendall leads the Cougars with 114 kills and averages a team-best 2.92 kills per set while hitting .227.
Keely Hinzman has added 89 kills and has been SAU's most efficient regular attacker with a .344 hitting percentage.
Natasha Bickel has contributed 69 kills, while
Melissa Staufer has 62.
Hinzman has also anchored the Cougars at the net, leading the team with 46 total blocks, including nine solo blocks, while Bickel has added 29.
Camy Wedge leads SAU with 228 assists and has also recorded 99 digs, while
Gabby Bryja has handed out 138 assists.
Defensively,
Palmer Fortress leads Spring Arbor with 151 digs and an average of 3.87 per set. Kirkendall has added 100 digs, while Staufer has 85. Staufer leads the team from the service line with 17 aces, followed by Wedge with 14 and Kirkendall and Hinzman with 13 apiece.
As a team, Spring Arbor is hitting .190 while holding its opponents to just .092.
The Cougars (9-2, 1-1 CL) visit Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
