Bruin Athletics Weekend Preview: Oct. 28-29
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three Bellevue University fall athletic teams – volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer – will be in action this week. Volleyball plays a home match on Friday evening and a pair of matches in a triangular at Grace on Saturday. Both men's and women's soccer host their final home game of the season on Saturday with both team's seniors being honored in a ceremony between the games. Today, BUBruins.com gives you a quick preview of this weekend's action.
#21 Volleyball (24-9): vs. Jamestown | Fri., Oct. 28 --- vs. Dickinson State and at Grace | Sat., Oct. 29
Live Video (Jamestown match only)
The volleyball team hosts University of Jamestown on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in a key NSAA contest that should go a long way to determine seeding for the upcoming conference tournament. A day later the Bruins will venture down the road to Grace University for a conference match against Dickinson State at noon and a 4 p.m. match against the host Royals.
Bellevue has won seven of their last eight matches overall and have seen their win streak against unranked competition increase to 16 matches.
Earlier this week Bruin setter Maddie Squiers – who leads the NAIA in assists and ranks fourth in assists per game – was named NAIA National Setter of the Week for the second time this season. In earning the honor she became the first Bruin to be named a National Player of the Week twice in a season and career.
BU has already played both Jamestown and Dickinson State on the year. The Bruins lost a tough five-setter to the Jimmies on the road but defeated the Blue Hawks in sweeping fashion a day later.
Jamestown holds a 19-10 overall record and is 9-2 in NSAA matches coming into their match with the Bruins. The Jimmies have alternated wins and losses in their last six contests, most recently falling in three sets to Dordt last night. Nicole Warren has twice been named the NAIA's Defender of the Week and ranks in the top 20 nationally in both digs and digs per game. Haley Glasoe ranks second in blocks and third in blocks per game.
Dickinson State enters the weekend 10-16 overall and 6-6 in league play. The Blue Hawks are 5-3 in their last eight games after a slow start to the season. DiSU has six players with at least 100 kills on the season and look to use a balanced attack.
Grace is 12-15 overall on the year with wins in each of their last two matches. They've played 12 matches against teams in the NSAA and have posted a 4-8 record against competition that Bellevue is familiar with.
Kills Leaders: Pakalana Helekahi (319), Shayla Scanlan (308), Mikaylah Gillespie (282), Hope Lambrecht (266)
Digs Leaders: Taylor Holz (539), Verenice Chaparro (319), Maddie Squiers (267), Lauren Colpitts (242)
Assist Leader: Maddie Squiers (1,368)
Blocks Leaders: Mikaylah Gillespie (123), Hope Lambrecht (108), Shayla Scanlan (98)
Men's Soccer (9-6-2, 3-0-0 NSAA): vs. Waldorf | Sat., Oct. 29
The men's soccer team hosts Waldorf University for an NSAA match at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in a game to determine the NSAA Regular-Season Champion. A Bellevue win or draw and they would be the outright conference champion while Waldorf would earn the honor if they are able to win.
The Bruins have been a juggernaut on both ends of the field in their last three games, scoring 27 goals and conceding just two.
In their last game, Bellevue jumped all over Grace early and often en route to a 12-0 victory. BU led 8-0 by halftime and accumulated a 53-0 advantage in shots to help Ben Martin to the easiest clean sheet of his career.
With their run of form recently – Bellevue has won six-straight games – and number four strength of schedule in the NAIA, the Bruins have jumped up to No. 36 in the latest MRPI rankings. The MRPI is used to determine at-large bids to the NAIA National Tournament.
Waldorf is 11-4-1 overall and 2-0-1 in North Star games. The Warriors are unbeaten in their last five games and have only given up two goals during that time while scoring 26 of their own.
The Warriors are led by Cristian Alvarez who ranks second in the conference with 11 goals. Jean Bonnin has scored seven times for Waldorf who averages over 3.5 goals per game.
Bellevue and Waldorf have played five times before with the Bruins winning all five games. In last season's match-up, BU picked up a 1-0 win in Forest City, Iowa.
Goal Leaders: Rob Smith (14), Daniel Coupland (10), Andres Blanco (6), David Goolsby (4), Edgar Guzman (4), Finlay Bloodworth (3), Travis Hurd (3), Scott Robson (3), Jonas Starkus (3), Lamine Doumbia (2), Alejandro Pena (1)
Assist Leaders: Scott Robson (10), Rob Smith (8), Daniel Coupland (6), Alejandro Pena (5), Edgar Guzman (4), Andres Blanco (3), Finlay Bloodworth (2), Travis Hurd (2), Angel Jacinto (2), JT Cronin (1), David Goolsby (1), Amador Rangel (1), Marlon Vega (1)
Keepers: Ben Martin (9-6-2, 70 Saves)
Women's Soccer (9-5-1, 2-1-0 NSAA): vs. Waldorf | Sat., Oct. 29
The women's soccer team hosts Waldorf University for an NSAA match at noon on Saturday.
With a victory on Saturday the Bruins will clinch at least a share of the NSAA Regular-Season Championship and hosting duties for next week's NSAA Tournament.
Bellevue has played well with a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. Overall BU is now 9-5-1 on the season and 2-1-0 in NSAA play.
Most recently, Bellevue edged a defensive-minded Grace team by a score of 2-0 on Wednesday evening. Bellevue received goals from Madison Lambert and Reyvin Hernandez in the win while Laurence Rodier earned her fourth shutout in goal.
The Bruins are ranked 24th in the latest MRPI on the strength of their winning percentage and strength of schedule which ranks third nationally.
Waldorf has a 4-8-2 overall record and are 0-1-2 in North Star games this season. Following a slow start the Warriors are 3-1-2 in their last six games. Brittney Thornton leads the team with 12 goals – of their 19 total – and has two assists on the year. Hanna DeVries has been their top keeper with a 3-1-2 record, 0.43 goals against average, and .940 save percentage.
BU and Waldorf have played five times before with Bellevue leading the all-time series 4-1-0. Last season the Bruins earned a 3-1 win in Forest City, Iowa.
Goal Leaders: Madison Lambert (6), Maiwut Dar (5), Jordyn Seidel (5), Michelle Dolder (3), Reyvin Hernandez (3), Lauren Clark (2), Kaleigh Young (1)
Assist Leaders: Reyvin Hernandez (6), Jordyn Seidel (5), Madison Lambert (3), Lauren Clark (2), Michelle Dolder (2), Kristin Hanson (2), Eliany Parra (1), Kylie Taylor (1)
Keepers: Laurence Rodier (9-5-1, 54 Saves), Bailey Petzoldt (0-0-0, 5 Saves)