Last Week
Bradley closed out the road portion of its schedule with a pair of 3-1 losses to Southern Illinois and Evansville. Junior Katrina Goncher had a team-high 10 kills and six blocks in the four-game setback at Southern Illinois. She followed that up with a 16-kill, five-block effort in a four-game loss at Evansville. Goncher averaged 3.25 kills and 1.38 blocks per game, while hitting .300 for the week.
Missouri State Series
Bradley will open up its final homestand of the season with one of the front runners for the regular season Missouri Valley Conference crown in Missouri State. The Bears hold a 35-7 lead in the all-time series and have won 14 consecutive matches dating back to a BU win on Oct. 20, 2000. Bradley is 4-16 in home matches in the all-time series.
Wichita State Series
Bradley will close out the 2007 season against nationally ranked Wichita State. The Shockers own a 24-18 edge in the all-time series with the Braves, having won each of the last nine meetings. Bradley is 12-9 in home matches in the series. The Braves are 8-12 in matches against the Shockers under head coach Scott Luster.
Ranked Foes
Saturday's regular-season finale against Wichita State will be the Braves 19th match all-time against teams ranked in the CSTV/AVCA Coaches Top 25. Bradley is 2-16 all-time against ranked teams with both victories coming at Robertson Memorial Field House against a ranked Northern Iowa team. The Braves have played at least one match against a ranked team in each of the last three years and nine of the past 10 seasons with the 2004 season being the only year Bradley did not face a top 25 team.
Senior Night
Saturday's match against Wichita State will be the final match for three Bradley seniors - Jenna Harrison, Eileen Hillary and Nikki Pierzchala. Harrison recorded her 500th career kill over the weekend and enters the final week needing seven blocks to reach 200. Hillary ranks 11th in school history in assists with nearly 1,200. Pierzchala has missed the last four matches due to injury, but ranks 19th in school history with 779 career kills and is one of 18 players in Bradley history with 700 kills and 500 digs.
Field House Finale?
Not only is Saturday's match against the Wichita State the final home game for Bradley's three seniors, but it also likely marks the final volleyball match at Robertson Memorial Field House. Construction on a new facility is anticipated to begin in spring, making Saturday's volleyball match in the historic building that has been home to Bradley volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball. Bradley went 63-67 (.485) at Robertson Field House from 1983 through the 1992 season, but has posted a .573 winning percentage at home since the start of the 1993 campaign (114-85).
Comiskey Closing In On History
Sophomore Kaitlyn Comiskey pushed her season total for digs to 441 and now owns the fourth-best season total in school history. It marks the fourth time since 1990 that a Bradley player has recorded 400 digs in a season. This season she has accounted for nearly 28 percent of the team's digs (27.1 percent). No player in school history has ever accounted for over 25 percent of the team's digs in a season.
Digs In A Season
1. Stacy Besjak 1985 606 42
2. Kathy Bickler 1985 540 42
3. Gillian Falknor 2005 538 32
4. Kaitlyn Comiskey 2007 441 29
5. Blythe Zajakowski 1990 439 36
Collins Continues To Shine
Freshman outside attacker continues to impress in her first season on The Hilltop. Collins recorded her 200th dig of the season last week, making her the sixth player in program history to record 200 kills and 200 digs during their freshman season. She joined Stephanie Behrns, Marika Giguere, Lisa LaMontagne, Cindy Novak and Jenny Pavlas in the elite group. In fact Collins also boasts 26 service aces and 34 blocks, making her the only freshman in program history with 200 kills, 200 digs, 25 aces and 30 blocks.
Kills By A Freshman
Player Year Kills MP
1. Marika Giguere 2000 326 25
2. Lisa LaMontagne 1991 315 31
3. Jenny Pavlas 1993 301 29
4. Cindy Novak 1993 280 29
5. Stacy Besjak 1982 278
6. Lindsay Stalzer 2002 259 30
7. Joy Ostendorf 1993 251 29
8. Betsy Buckhold 1983 243 40
9. Kathy Vaitkus 1984 238 34
10. Melissa Collins 2007 219 29
The Future Is Bright
Bradley's freshmen class have played a big role this season, combining over 35 percent of the Braves kills and nearly 40 percent of the team's blocking. This season the freshmen have combined for 470 kills (35.6 percent of the team's total), 36 aces (31 percent), 321 digs (19.7 percent) and 90.5 blocks (38.3 percent). Last season the freshmen had a combined 118 kills (8 percent of the team total), 10 aces (8 percent), 177 digs (9 percent) and 18.5 blocks (9 percent) for the entire season. The last freshmen class to contribute more than 25 percent of the team's kills in a season were freshman during the 2000 season. That group included Ann Franklin, Marika Giguere and Jenna Passman. In fact, the Bradley underclassmen (five freshmen and three sophomores) have combined for nearly half of the teams kills, 66 percent of the team's aces, 54 percent of the digs and 52 percent of this year's blocking.
Braves Complete Horizon League Challenge
Bradley wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule Monday night against Illinois-Chicago at Robertson Memorial Field House. The Flames were the fifth non-conference opponent for the Braves from the Horizon League and BU finished with an 0-5 record against teams from that conference. Bradley also faced the top three teams in the Horizon League standings (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cleveland State and Valparaiso) in addition to playing Loyola.
Blocking The Night Away
Bradley had arguably one of its defensive efforts against Loyola-Chicago (Oct. 16) at Robertson Memorial Field House, posting 82 digs and a season-best 19 blocks in a five-game loss. The 19 blocks were the most by the Braves since notching 22 blocks in a four-game victory at Drake on Nov. 1, 2003. Junior Katrina Goncher led Bradley, trying career highs with 14 kills and 10 blocks. Her 10 blocks were the most by a Bradley player since she recorded 10 blocks at Indiana State on Oct. 7, 2005 and it was the first time a Bradley player had a double-double that included double digit blocks since Ashley Vance's triple-double (57 assists, 18 digs, 11 blocks) at Drake at Nov. 1, 2003.
Austin Climbs Blocks List
Freshman Emily Austin is second on the team in blocking, averaging 0.94 blocks per game. Her 11 block solos is second only to junior Katrina Goncher and she has team-bests of 74 block assists and 85 total blocks.
Her 74 block assists is the eighth best total by a freshman and her 85 total blocks is also eighth among freshman marks. In fact she has joined Lindsay Stalzer and Katrina Goncher as the only freshman since 1996 to have over 70 block assists and 80 total blocks.
Collins Notches Season High In Kills
Freshman Melissa Collins has been one of the Braves top outside attackers and currently ranks second on the team in total kills with 219 this season. She posted a season-best 18 kills in Bradley's five-game loss at Drake (Oct. 20), marking the most kills by a freshman in a match since Marika Giguere reached the 18-kill mark six times during the 2000 season. Collins is averaging 2.65 kills per game over the last 13 matches after averaging 1.71 kills per game in the first 16 matches of the season.
Pierzchala Cracks Top 20
Senior Nikki Pierzchala recorded her 700th career kill against Southern Illinois on Oct. 13. The 23rd player in program history to reach 700 career kills, she is 19th in school history with 779 career kills and enters this weekend's match against UNI 48 kills behind former teammate Briony Hammet for 18th place. She is the 18th player in program history with 700 kills and 500 digs in a career and is 21 kills and 16 digs short of being the 15th player in school history with 800 career kills and 600 digs.
Blocking Is Improved
One area the Braves have improved upon from recent years is play at the net. Through 29 matches, the Braves are averaging 2.32 blocks per game, which is the highest average since the 2002 team averaged 2.67 blocks per game. Leading the way at the net for the Braves is junior Katrina Goncher (0.96 blocks per game) and freshman freshman Emily Austin (0.94 bpg).
Strarks To Seek Medical Hardship
Freshman Alex Starks is likely done for the season and will apply for a medical hardship for the 2007 season. The Peoria, Ill., native played in nine matches and 19 games and was averaging 2.11 kills per game.
Balanced Attack
Bradley used a very balanced attack against Drake (Sept. 21), with six different players collecting 10 or more kills. It is believed to be the first time in program history, six BU players had 10 or more kills in a match, unfortunately not all box scores prior to the 1992 season are available in sports information archives. Freshman Emily Austin paced the Braves offensively with 15 kills, while the trio of Nikki Pierzchala, Katrina Goncher and Melissa Collins each added 14 kills. Amy Reichel had 12 kills and senior Jenna Harrison notched 10 kills as the six players combined for all 79 of the Braves kills in the match and all but five of Bradley's attack attempts.
Black Stepping Up
Junior Sam Black leads the team in double-doubles, reaching double figures in assists and digs in 13 of the last 23 matches and owns a team-best 13 double-doubles on the season. Black, who is the Braves active career leader in double-doubles (24), assists (1,781) and aces (66), is averaging 8.51 assists and 2.94 digs per game over the last 23 matches.
Black Moves Into Ninth In Assists
Junior setter Sam Black moved into ninth place on Bradley's career assist list last weekend, passing Carrie Brigman. Black enters the final two matches of the season with 1,781 career assists and is exactly 300 assists behind Trish Jording for eighth in school history. Senior Eileen Hillary is 11th all-time with 1,154 career assists.
Bradley's Career Assists Leaders
Player Years Assists MP
1. Michelle Pack 1992-95 4251 110
2. Sam Hardwick 1998-01 3828 112
3. Ashley Vance 2002-05 3721 117
4. Wendy Carney 1986-89 2937 137
5. Amelie Rodrigue 1999-02 2546 116
6. Sharon Zaba 1982-85 2434 123
7. Julie Penn 1987-90 2107 128
8. Trish Jording 1994-97 2081 97
9. Sam Black 2005- 1781 79
10. Carrie Brigman 1984-85 1714 65
11. Eileen Hillary 2004- 1154 105
12. Ange Martin 1991-94 1023 119
Pierzchala Named To All-Tournament Team
Senior attacker Nikki Pierzchala picked up the first honors of the season for the Braves, earning all-tournament honors at the Radisson Hotel Invitational. Pierzchala averaged 2.00 kills and 2.20 digs per game. She posted her second double-double of the year in the Braves four-game victory against Western Illinois, finishing with 11 kills and 12 digs.
Braves Picked Eighth In Preseason MVC Poll
Bradley was picked to finish eighth according to a vote of Missouri Valley Conference coaches. Despite the eighth-place prediction, the Braves were just six points behind sixth-place Southern Illinois in the preseason predictions. Defending regular-season champion Northern Iowa is the favorite to repeat, picking up seven of 10 first-place votes and a total of 97 points. Wichita State was second with 85 points and one first-place vote, while Creighton garnered two first-place picks and was third with 81 points. Missouri State was fourth at 71 points, while Illinois State rounded out the top five with 65 points. Southern Illinois checked in at sixth with 39 points, with Evansville (7th - 38 points) and Bradley (8th - 33 points) following. Drake was picked ninth with 28 points and Indiana State received 13 points and was picked to finish 10th.
2007 Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team.......................................................... Total
Northern Iowa (7)............................................... 97
Wichita State (1)................................................. 85
Creighton (2)...................................................... 81
Missouri State.................................................... 71
Illinois State....................................................... 65
Southern Illinois.................................................. 39
Evansville......................................................... 38
Bradley............................................................ 33
Drake............................................................... 28
Indiana State...................................................... 13
No One-Two Combo?
Bradley entered the 2007 season without having two players on the roster with 300 or more career kills, marking the first time since the 1997 season the Braves have done so. Senior Nikki Pierzchala is the Braves active career leader in kills with 779 and she is followed by fellow senior Jenna Harrison, who recorded her 300th career kill during the opening weekend, and is at 505 kills for her career. The last time the Braves entered the season without two players on the roster with 300 or more career kills was the 1997 season. Entering the 1997 campaign, Jenny Pavlas had 1,236 career kills, but no other player on the roster had more than 200 kills. Jennifer Dority was second on the squad entering the season with 165 kills.
Luster Nearing 600 Wins
10th-year Bradley head coach Scott Luster is closing in on 600 career victories, needing 18 wins to reach the mark. The second winningest coach in program history Luster owns a 134-162 record at BU and has a career mark of 582-413 (.585). Luster has coached in 995 matches as a Division I head coach, including 296 matches at Bradley. He has led the Braves to a 77-101 (.433) record in Missouri Valley Conference play. Bradley was just 71-118 (.376) in conference action prior to Luster's arrival on The Hilltop.
Bradley Career Coaching Victories
Overall Record Conference Record
Head Coach (Years) W L Pct. W L Pct.
Pam Stanek (1982-94) 212 249 .460 49 84 .368
Scott Luster (1998-present) 134 162 .456 77 101 .433
Anelle Griffin (1975-80) 115 86 .572 -- --- --
Kalani Mahi (1995-97) 38 53 .418 22 34 .393
Darlene Kluka (1981) 11 27 .289 -- -- --
Marty King (1974) 5 10 .333 -- -- --
