Last Week
Bradley suffered a pair of home losses, falling to Missouri State in three sets and dropping a three-set decision to preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Wichita State. Freshman Madelyn Ervin led the Braves offensively last week, averaging 2.00 kills per set. Sophomore Rachelle Dejean averaged 3.17 digs per set to pace Bradley defensively.
This Week
Bradley opens a season-long three-match road swing Friday with a match at Southern Illinois and faces Evansville on the road Saturday night in a matchup which will be broadcast in the Peoria area on ESPN Radio 96.5 FM. SIU has won eight consecutive matches in the series and holds a 32-14 edge in the series with the Braves. The Salukis have won 10 of the last 11 overall. Bradley is 6-16 all-time in matches played in Carbondale, Ill. The Braves hold a 23-13 lead in the all-time series with Evansville, but the Purple Aces have won five straight and six of the last seven overall in the series. Bradley holds a 10-6 lead in the series in matches played in Evansville, Ind.
Second Half Rally
The Braves open the second half of Missouri Valley Conference play Friday at Southern Illinois. Bradley hopes to continue what has become a trend the last few years, boasting a better record in the second half of league play in two of the last three years. After an 0-9 start to Valley play last year, the Braves closed out the season with a 2-7 record in the second half of conference play. Bradley was 1-8 in both halves of league play in 2007 and went 3-6 in the second half of the 2006 conference schedule after a 2-7 start.
Climbing The Charts
Sophomore Rachelle Dejean averaged 3.17 digs per set last week to help lead Bradley's defensive efforts and moved up three spots on the Braves' career digs list in the process. Dejean recorded her 600th career dig Friday against Missouri State and enters this week with 615 digs in her career, which is good for 35th all-time. She needs 22 digs to move up two spots on Bradley's career digs list and is 50 digs short of cracking BU's career top 30.
Rk. Name Years Digs MP
33. Kelly Niemeyer 2003-06 637 93
34. Ange Martin 1991-94 636 118
35. Rachelle Dejean 2008- 615 55
36. Nicole Gagnon 1992-95 611 116
37. Betsy Buckhold 1983-86 606 159
38. Nikki Pierzchala 2004-07 596 112
Reichel Catches Former Teammate
Senior Amy Reichel passed former teammate Nikki Pierzchala for 19th on Bradley's career kills list last week and heads into this week's action needing just one kill to become the 19th player in program history with 800 career kills. Pierzchala registered 792 kills during her Bradley career and is now 20th all-time at BU. Reichel is 28 kills behind Briony Hammet for 18th and is 37 kills from passing Ann Franklin for 17th. Junior Melissa Collins is tied with Joy Ostendorf for 30th in career kills with 541.
Tough Road Swing
Bradley opens a tough three-match Missouri Valley Conference road swing this week, which includes matches at Southern Illinois (13-6 overall), at Evansville (11-10 overall) and at Northern Iowa (18-2 overall). The three teams have combined for a .700 winning percentage (42-18 overall) and boast a 14-5 (.737) combined home record. The Braves last win at Evansville was in 2006 and Bradley has not won at Southern Illinois since 2003. The Braves have lost 20 consecutive road matches in the series with Northern Iowa, with Bradley's last road win in the series falling during the 1984 campaign.
Welcome Back
Freshman Madelyn Ervin was hampered by a preseason injury early in the season, but has emerged as one Bradley's top offensive threats lately. Since collecting a season-best 17 kills against SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 4, Ervin is averaging 2.29 kills per set over the last five matches. Prior to the match against SIU Edwardsville she averaged just 1.18 kills per set. Ervin isn't the only Brave to boast better attacking numbers over that same time frame. Sophomore Annie Cave averaged 2.15 kills per set and hit .178 over the first 19 matches of the season, but has improved to 2.24 kills and a .182 attacking percentage over the last five matches.
Friendly Confines
Saturday's home match against Wichita State was Bradley's league-leading 15th home match of the 2009 season. The Braves have played 15 matches at home since going 10-5 at Robertson Memorial Field House in 2005. With four more home matches remaining on the schedule (three at the Markin Family Student Recreation Center and one at Illinois Central College), the Braves will play the most home matches in program history. The 2002 team played a total of 17 matches at home, which included two matches in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Robertson Memorial Field House.
Tough Stretch
Bradley is in the middle of arguably the toughest stretch of the season for Bradley. Starting with last Friday's match against Missouri State, the Braves next five opponents all have winning records on the year and have combined for a 72-27 (.727) mark in 2009, including a 30-15 (.667) record in conference play.
Serving Them Up
Bradley has served up 118 through the first 23 matches of the season. The Braves are second in the MVC with a 1.46 aces per set average this season and the team's 118 aces are the most since 2007. Bradley had 110 aces in 2008 and averaged 0.94 aces per set. With nine matches remaining on the schedule, the Braves are on pace to post the most aces since finishing with 171 aces in 2003.
Nearing 800
Senior Amy Reichel enters this week needing one kill to become the 18th player in school history to record 800 career kills. Reichel led the Braves with 299 kills in 2008 and has a team-leading 206 kills this season. She is 19th all-time in school history with 799 kills after passing former teammate Nikki Pierzchala for 19th last week.
Briony Hammet ranks 18th in Bradley history with 827 career kills. Reichel is 51 kills from jumping up five spots on BU's career kills list into 15th. Junior Melissa Collins is second among active players with 541 career kills and is tied for 30th all-time at BU.
Rk. Name Years Kills MP
17. Ann Franklin 2000-03 836 108
18. Briony Hammet 2002-05 827 122
19. Amy Reichel 2006- 799 111
20. Nikki Pierzchala 2004-07 792 112
Good Starts Key
Bradley is 7-0 this season when taking the first set and 7-1 when taking the second set of matches. The Braves were just 5-5 in 2008 when taking the opening set of a match. Bradley has lost the opening set in nine consecutive matches, but the Braves been outscored by just seven points (80-73) in the first set over the last three matches.
Aces Wild
Freshman Skylar Lesan is tied for the lead in the Missouri Valley Conference with 33 aces this season and is second in The Valley with a 0.41 aces-per-set average. Lesan's 33 aces are the most by a Bradley player since Lindsay Stalzer had 53 aces in 2005. In addition, her 33 aces is tied for the seventh-best total by a Bradley freshman and most by a BU frosh since Tegan Catlin had 36 aces in 1995.
Aces By A Bradley Freshman
Rk. Player Year Aces MP
1. Sharon Zaba 1983 54 40
2. Kathy Vaitkus 1984 52 34
3. Tricia Hampe 1990 46 36
4. Ange Martin 1991 38 31
5. Julie Penn 1987 37 29
6. Tegan Catlin 1995 36 29
7. Karen Adams 1982 33 N/A
Skylar Lesan 2009 33 23
Braves End Losing Skid With Win Against SIUE
Bradley fell to Northern Iowa (0-3) Oct. 2, before ending a six-match losing streak with a non-conference victory against SIU Edwardsville (3-2) on Oct. 4. In addition to ending the longest losing streak of the season, the Braves snapped a four-match losing streak in five-set matches with the victory and also snapped a four-match home losing skid.
Most Wins Since 2005
Bradley picked up its ninth victory of the season, topping SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 4 in five sets. The nine wins are the most for the Braves since finishing the 2005 season with a 16-17 record. The win against SIUE was Bradley's sixth home victory of the season, giving the Braves the most home wins since 2005 when Bradley boasted a 10-5 home mark.
Non-Conference Success
The Braves wrapped up the non-conference portion of the schedule with a five-set victory against SIU Edwardsville and finished the year with a 9-5 record against non-league foes. Bradley's nine non-conference wins are the most since 2001 and the Braves 9-5 record is the squad's best since going 9-3 against non-conference opponents in 2001.
Lesan Climbing Charts
Skylar Lesan was already the first freshman to start at setter for the Braves since Amelie Rodrigue (1999-2002) and the frosh joined even more impressive company recently. Lesan pushed her season assist total to 762, giving her the most by a Bradley freshman since Sam Hardwick. Hardwick recorded 1,127 assists in 28 matches as a freshman during the 1998 season. Lesan ranks fourth among Bradley freshman in assists behind Sharon Zaba (1,281 assists in 1983), Hardwick and Michelle Pack (900 in 1992).
Assists By A Bradley Freshman
Rk. Player Year Ast. MP
1. Sharon Zaba 1983 1281 40
2. Sam Hardwick 1998 1127 28
3. Michelle Pack 1992 900 24
4. Skylar Lesan 2009 762 23
5. Amelie Rodrige 1999 647 26
Ending Some Streaks
Bradley's five-set victory against SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 4 ended several streaks for the Braves. Bradley snapped a four-match home losing skid with the win and also brought to an end a four-match losing streak in five-set matches. The Braves also ended a three-match losing streak in the final non-conference match of the season. Bradley improved to 19-8 in the final non-conference match of the season.
Young Guns
Senior Amy Reichel may lead Bradley in kills with 206 on the year, but the younger players have highlighted the Braves offensive attack. Six of Bradley's top eight in kills are underclassmen and the Braves' freshmen and sophomores have combined for 59 percent of BU's kills in 2009. Bradley's underclassmen have accounted for 89 percent of the squad's digs and 87 percent of the team's aces. The freshmen and sophomores have also combined for 60 percent of the team's blocks.
Climbing The Digs List
Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Rachelle Dejean broke into Bradley's career top 40 for digs recently and is currently 35th all-time in digs at BU with 615. Dejean ranks second among active players in career digs and needs just 51 digs to move into Bradley's top 30.
Keeping It In State
Bradley's match against SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 4 was the Braves fourth non-conference match against an in-state opponent of the season. Bradley finished 2-2 against in-state foes and posted at least a .500 record against in-state non-conference opponents for the first time since going 3-3 in 2005. The Braves are 35-22 (.614) against in-state non-conference foes since the start of the 1995 campaign.
Reichel With Career-High 22 Kills
Senior Amy Reichel turned in a career-high 22 kills against Western Illinois in a five-set loss. Reichel, whose previous career high for kills was 18, is the first Bradley player to top 20 kills since Nikki Pierzchala had 22 kills against Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 22, 2007.
Rare Occurrence
The Braves did not record a block in Bradley's three set-loss at Drake (Sept. 19), marking the first time in just over 20 years BU did not have a block in a match. The last time Bradley failed to record a single block in a match was almost 20 years to the day - Sept. 15, 1989 against Auburn at the Big Orange Classic in Clemson, S.C. The Braves had recorded at least one block in 613 consecutive matches prior to Saturday's match against Drake.
Western Illinois Snaps Braves Win Streak In Series
Bradley had a 10-match win streak in the series with Western Illinois snapped after the Leathernecks posted a five-set victory against the Braves. The loss was Bradley's first to WIU since suffering a four-set loss in Macomb, Ill., on Oct. 8, 1996. The Braves had won eight consecutive home matches against the Leathernecks dating back to a three-set Western Illinois win on Nov. 8, 1991 when both teams were part of the Gateway Conference.
Conference Openers
Bradley fell to 15-12 all-time in conference openers after falling at Creighton (Sept. 18). The Braves have lost four consecutive Valley openers and are now 7-7 when opening league play on the road.
On The Air
A total of five Bradley volleyball road matches will air in the Peoria area on 96.5 FM ESPN Radio. Saturday's match at Evansville is the third of five broadcasts scheduled for the 2009 season. The Nov. 13 match at Wichita State and the Nov. 14 tilt at Missouri State will also be broadcast on ESPN Radio.
Braves Take Second Again
For the third consecutive week, Bradley finished second in a tournament after going 2-1 at last week's CEFCU Classic. The Braves tied Montana State and UTEP for the best tournament record as all three schools went 2-1. UTEP was declared tournament champs because of the Miners' 8-3 record in sets played compared to Bradley's 6-4 mark and Montana State's 7-6 record. The Braves finished second in all three in-season tournaments this year, going a combined 8-3 in those matches.
All-Tournament Honors
Senior Amy Reichel and sophomore Megan Schmidt were both selected to the All-Tournament Team at the CEFCU Classic. Reichel averaged 2.40 kills per set, while Schmidt averaged 1.90 kills, 3.90 digs and 0.90 blocks per set as the duo helped Bradley to a second-place finish. Schmidt turned in her first double-double of the year with 12 kills and a career-high 23 digs against Montana State. Reichel also tied for match-high honors with 12 kills against Montana State.
Digging The Night Away
Sophomore middle blocker Megan Schmidt notched her first double-double of the season against Montana State (Sept. 12), finishing with 12 kills and 23 digs. In addition to setting a new career, Schmidt's 23 digs are the most by a Bradley player this season. In fact, the 23 digs are the most for any Bradley player not playing libero in a match since Kelly Niemeyer had 24 digs at Southern Illinois on Oct. 28, 2006.
Braves Finish Second At Radford Invite
For the second time in as many tournaments, Bradley took second at the Radford Invitational (Sept. 4 & 5) after going 3-1 in tournament play. The Braves were the only team to play four matches over the weekend, posting wins against South Carolina State, Western Carolina and Coppin State before falling in four sets to tournament-host Radford.
8-4 Start
Bradley's 8-4 start to the year was the best for the Braves since opening 2002 season with a 12-3 record. The 2002 squad went on to post a 19-12 overall record. The Braves have started 10 other seasons with an 8-4 record and have never finished with a losing record when opening a slate with an 8-4 mark or better.
Radford All-Tournament Honors
The freshmen duo of Alise Tupuritis and Skylar Lesan were both named to the All-Tournament team at the Radford Invitational after helping Bradley to a 3-1 record and second-place finish. Tupuritis earned all-tournament honors for the second consecutive week, after averaging 2.85 kills and 1.31 digs per set. Lesan turned in her second double-double of the season during the tournament and averaged 1.00 kill, 9.20 assists, 0.80 aces and 1.67 digs per set.
Coming Up Aces
Bradley ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 1.46 aces per set average, after tying for eighth in The Valley with a 0.94 aces per set average in 2008. The Braves have already recorded 118 aces on the season through the first 23 matches and average 5.13 aces per match after averaging 3.44 aces per match last year. Leading the way is freshman Skylar Lesan, whose 33 aces this fall is the most by a Bradley player since 2005. As a team, Bradley's 118 aces are the most since finishing the 2007 season with 124.
More On The Aces
Sophomore Annie Cave, who entered the Radford Invitational with 12 career aces, had a career-high five aces against Coppin State on Sept. 5 and also had a four-ace outing against Western Carolina Sept. 4. The five aces against Coppin State is the most by a Bradley player since Bethany Dulle had five aces at IUPUI on Sept. 6, 2004. On the season, Cave has 19 aces after recording five aces as a freshman.
Home Tournaments
For the first time in program history, Bradley hosted two in-season tournaments in the same season. The Braves opened the season with the five-team Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational (Aug. 28 & 29) and also hosted the four-team CEFCU Classic (Sept. 11 & 12). Bradley is no stranger to hosting in-season tournaments, having hosted an in-season tournament 18 times in the last 26 years. The Braves have also had quite a bit of success when hosting in-season tournaments, boasting a 42-18 (.700) record in those events. Bradley has gone undefeated in its own tournament six times (1984, 1985, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005), while going winless in its own event just once (1987 - 0-3). The Braves are 7-3 (.700) under head coach Sean Burdette in home tournaments.
Making Strides
Bradley has already swept three opponents and is 3-10 in three-set matches, after going 1-15 in three-set matches last Fall. The Braves are 5-3 in four setters in 2009, after owning a 3-8 mark in four-set matches in 2008. Bradley won a total of 32 sets in 2008, but has already matched that total with 32 sets won this Fall.
Megan Schmidt Named Scholar-Athlete of the Week
Sophomore Megan Schmidt was named the Bradley Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the week of Sept. 1 after helping Bradley to a second-place finish (3-1) at the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational and getting named to the all-tournament team. Schmidt averaged 2.23 kills per set while attacking at .435 clip and also averaged 1.23 blocks per set as she helped the Braves to their best four-match start to a season since opening the 2000 season with a 4-0 record. In the season opener, Schmidt had six kills on just eight swings (.625) and also added four block assists in a four-set victory against South Carolina-Upstate after sitting out the first two sets of the match. She collected a match-high 10 kills on her first 10 swings against Chicago State and finished with a .769 attack percentage (10-0-13) to go along with three block assists against the Cougars. Schmidt had five kills, one ace, seven digs and two block assists in a four-set win against Lehigh and wrapped up the weekend with eight kills (.364 attack percentage), and seven blocks against IUPUI.
Braves Take Second At Home Tournament
Bradley finished second in its own tournament, going 3-1 at the season-opening Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational. The Braves, which opened a season at home for the first time since 2000, are off to their best start since beginning the 2000 campaign with a 4-0 record. The 2000 season was also the last time Bradley opened a season at home. The Braves have nine previous starts of 3-1 or better to a season and have never finished a season with a losing record when opening a year with a 3-1 mark.
Opening At Home
After playing four matches in two days to open the season, the Braves closed out a season-opening five-match homestand with a three-set loss against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. The five-match homestand is the longest for the Braves since the 2005 season. Bradley was 4-1 during its last five-match homestand , with the lone loss against Northern Illinois in the final match of the Radisson Hotel Invitational at Robertson Memorial Field House.
Hotels at Grand Prairie All-Tournament
Sophomore Megan Schmidt and freshman Alise Tupuritis were both named to the All-Tournament team at the season-opening Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational after helping Bradley to a 3-1 record and second-place finish. Schmidt averaged 2.23 kills and 1.23 blocks per set while hitting an impressive .435. Tupuritis led the Braves in kills in three of the four matches and averaged 3.33 kills, 2.60 digs and 0.47 aces per set while posting a pair of double-doubles.
Efficient Attack
Another reason for the Braves early season success has been a much improved offensive attack. Bradley, which hit .146 as a team in 2008, boasts a .179 attack percentage after 21 matches this season. The highlight of the opening weekend came against Chicago State, when the Braves owned a .395 attack percentage. The .395 hitting percentage was the best for the Braves since hitting at a .430 clip at Indiana State on Sept. 14, 2002.
On The Internet
Live stats for all Bradley home matches can be found on the Bradley Athletics website (www.bradleybraves.com) under the Live Stats link located near the top of the page. A free audio stream and pay-per-view video streams for most home matches will be available at www.bradleybraves.com.
Home, Sweet Home
After playing 10 of 13 home matches in 2008 at Illinois Central College's Lorene Ramsey Gym, the Braves return to campus for the bulk of the 2009 schedule and will call the Markin Family Student Recreation Center home this season. The Markin Center will serve as Bradley's third home court in as many years, before Bradley moves into a new facility which will be completed this spring on the former site of Robertson Memorial Field House. The Braves played the final three home matches of the 2008 season at the Markin Center and posted a four-set victory against NCAA Tournament participant Missouri State on Senior Night. This season, Bradley will play a program record 19 home matches. The Braves played 13 of the first 19 matches of the year at home.
Up Next
Bradley will close out a season-long three match road swing and a stretch in which the Braves played five of seven matches on the road with a match at Northern Iowa on Oct. 31. Northern Iowa holds a 47-9 lead in the all-time series with the Braves and the Panthers have won seven consecutive meetings. Bradley is 1-21 in road matches in the all-time series with UNI with the lone win coming in the Braves first match in Cedar Falls, Iowa, during the 1984 season.
What's Back
The Braves return 10 of 13 letterwinners, including five starters from last year's team. Included in that group is Bradley's top four attackers and five of the team's top six in kills from 2008. The 14-person roster features just three seniors and six upperclassmen.
Braves Picked Ninth In Preseason Poll
Bradley was picked to finish ninth in a preseason poll of Missouri Valley Conference coaches, receiving 24 of a possible 100 points. Defending regular-season champion Wichita State picked up nine of 10 first-place votes and is picked to defend its title. Missouri State garnered the one remaining first-place vote and is second in the poll with 87 points. Northern Iowa was third with 83. Drake was selected to finish ahead of Bradley in eighth place at 33 points, while the Braves were ninth with 24 points. Indiana State rounded out the poll in 10th place with 19 points.
2009 MVC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rk School (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Wichita State (9) 99
2. Missouri State (1) 87
3. Northern Iowa 83
4. Creighton 67
5. Southern Illinois 49
6. Evansville 47
7. Illinois State 42
8. Drake 33
9. Bradley 24
10. Indiana State 19
Active Leaders
Senior Amy Reichel is the Braves active career leader in kills with 799 in her career. Reichel, who moved into 19th in career kills at Bradley, also ranks as Bradley's active career leader with 168 career blocks and 57 service aces. Fellow senior Kaitlyn Comiskey is BU's active career leader in digs with 869 during her Bradley career. Comiskey ranks 17th all-time with her 869 career digs and is 31 digs from becoming the 15th player in program history with 900 career digs.
