Match #10
Lindenwood (4-5, 0-0 OVC)
at Kansas City (2-6, 0-0 SL)
Match Information:
Date: Friday, Sept. 20
Start Time: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Kansas City, Mo. | Swinney Center
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats
Watch: Summit League Network

Match #11
Lindenwood 
vs. Bradley (3-6, 0-0 MVC)
Match Information:
Date: Friday, Sept. 20
Start Time: 4:30 p.m. CT
Location: Kansas City, Mo. | Swinney Center
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats

Match #12
Lindenwood
vs. Montana (3-5, 0-0 Big Sky)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Start Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
Location: Kansas City, Mo. | Swinney Center
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats

Matchup
Lindenwood's women volleyball closes out their 2024 non-conference schedule in Kansas City, Mo. this weekend at the Kangaroo Classic hosted by Kansas City. The Lions enter the weekend with a 4-5 record after going 2-1 last weekend.

This marks the first meeting for the Lions against all three teams this weekend. Kansas City and Bradley are no strangers to opponents in the Ohio Valley Conference. Last weekend, the Roos defeated UT Martin in four sets while Bradley is 2-1 over OVC teams including two wins over Eastern Illinois and a lost against Southern Indiana.

Lindenwood went undefeated at home during the Lindenwood Invitational last weekend with a five-set win over Southern Illinois-Carbondale and a sweep of Austin Peay. LU then traveled to SEC opponent Missouri on Sunday and lost in four sets. They are just one of two OVC schools to win a set over a Power Four school.

After this weekend, the Lions will start conference play at home against EIU. Lindenwood will host nine more matches at Hyland Arena this season. Fans can watch Lindenwood this weekend on the Summit League Network (only their match against Kansas City).

Preseason OVC Rankings
The OVC released their 2024 women's volleyball preseason poll last week where Lindenwood was selected to finish in fifth place. The Lions had the third best record in the conference last season earning the third seed at the OVC Tournament.

Southeast Missouri State was voted as the preseason favorite in 2024 with six first-place votes and a total of 167 points. Last year's OVC Champions Eastern Illinois was picked to finish right behind them with 166 points and five first place votes.

Morehead State (163 points/five first-place votes), Tennessee Tech (152 points/four first-place votes) and Lindenwood (145 points/one first-place vote) round out the top five in the OVC poll. The top five schools were separate by just 22 points.

Lindenwood also landed two players on the Preseason All-OVC team. Nyah Wilson and Jessie Seidel were selected after both received Second Team All-OVC honors last season. Allie Otten was voted as a player to watch as she returns for her sixth season.

Last Weekend Recap
Lindenwood hosted their first two matches of the season at the Lindenwood Invitational. It marked the second straight season that the Lions have hosted this event. At the conclusion of the weekend, Lindenwood went undefeated with wins against Southern Illinois and Austin Peay.

The Lions then traveled to Columbia, Mo. to take on SEC opponent Missouri. Lindenwood battled tough eventually losing in four sets. Nyah Wilson powered there way to a set-three win with 16 kills.

Wilson led the way for Lindenwood last week with 35 kills while hitting .295. Freshman Autumn Bax was the OVC Freshman of the Week after posting 32 kills including a season-high 18 vs. SIU. Lindenwood set the all-time LU record in kills in a single match vs. SIU with 77 (NCAA era).

Player To Watch
Setter Abby VanBuskirk helped the Lions last weekend with 48 assists for an average of 4.00 per set. VanBuskirk also led the team last weekend with four service aces. On the season, she posted a season-high 23 assists vs. SIU.

OVC Top Ten Stats
Janke currently ranks fifth in the OVC in hitting percentage (.300). Of those ranked in the top ten in HP%, Janke ranks third in total kills with 75.

Otten ranks fifth among setters in assists per set with an average of 8.21. She also ranks third in the conference in total assists with 312. Seidel rounds of the group of Top Ten Lions ranking seventh in digs per set with an average of 4.45. She ranks second in total digs with 169.

Scouting the Opponent
Kansas City Category Leaders    
Kills: Kaia Dunford - 105
Assists: Sydney Henry - 271
Aces: Brooke Boyer - 8
Digs: Leah Green - 112    
Blocks: Ledisi Kpea - 26.0

Bradley Category Leaders
Kills: Silan Demirkol - 89
Assists: Maria Drapp - 175
Aces: Corrie Brown - 19
Digs: Irene Mostardini - 149  
Blocks: Beste Ayhan- 34.0

Montana Category Leaders
Kills: Paige Clark - 96
Assists: Casi Newman - 185
Aces: Paige Clark - 14
Digs: Alexis Batezel - 98
Blocks: Brenley Hansen - 35.0

Up Next:
Lindenwood starts Ohio Valley Conference play next weekend at home against Eastern Illinois starting on Friday, Sept. 27th at 6:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.