Women's Volleyball 9/1/2023 10:01:00 AM Brandon Stinson | Sports Information & Media Coordinator

GAME NOTES: Rocky Volleyball Faces Two Top-25 Opponents in the Labor Day Classic

SIOUX CITY, Iowa.- Rocky Volleyball's competitive non-conference schedule continues in Sioux City, Iowa, as two of their four matchups this weekend are against top-10 teams in the nation.

Matchups

Rocky Mountain College (5-3) vs #2 Concordia University (4-0)
Friday, September 1st | 11:00am (MT) | Sioux City, Iowa

Rocky Mountain College (5-3) vs Dordt University (0-3)
Friday, September 1st | 3:00pm (MT) | Sioux City, Iowa

Rocky Mountain College (5-3) vs #9 Midland University (4-2)
Saturday, September 2nd | 8:00am (MT) | Sioux City, Iowa

Rocky Mountain College (5-3) vs Indiana University East (3-2)
Saturday, September 2nd | 10:00am (MT) | Sioux City, Iowa

Quick Links

Watch - https://www.ballertv.com/events/labor-day-classic-2023
Live Stats - https://gobattlinbears.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary?path=wvball
Rocky Volleyball Roster - https://gobattlinbears.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster
Concordia University Roster - https://www.cune.edu/athletics/teams/volleyball/roster
Dordt University Roster - https://godordt.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster
Midland University Roster - https://www.midlandathletics.com/sports/wvball/2023-24/roster
Indiana University East Roster - https://www.iueredwolves.com/sports/wvball/2023-24/roster

Quick Notes

- The Battlin' Bears faced four top-25 opponents in the Labor Day Classic a season ago, including Dordt and Midland University.
- This weekend will include the second and third matchups with top-25 teams before conference play this season. As the ratings sit now, Rocky Volleyball's non-conference matchup with Montana Tech in the Frontier Conference Preseason Tournament will be the final top-25 matchup before conference play beginning September 22nd.
- Rocky Volleyball continued to receive votes in the latest top-25 coaches poll, but fell from 73 votes to 11 total votes.

Recap: Rocky Volleyball Finishes HIU Summer Slam 3-1

The Battlin' Bears made an impressive run in the Hope International Summer Slam in California last weekend, going 3-1 and only losing one set in their first three matches of the weekend. Wins on the weekend included University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, host school Hope International University, and (RV) College of Idaho. The final matchup of the weekend featured a top-25 team in Texas Wesleyan University (then #23, now #20). While three of the four sets were ultra competitive and back and forth, Texas Wesleyan were able to close the Battlin' Bears in four sets, bringing Rocky's overall record to 5-3 on the season entering this weekend's tournament.

Battlin' Bears Sweep Player of the Week Awards

The Battlin' Bears made a clean sweep in the Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Player of the Week honors, as junior defensive specialist Brooke Ark, junior setter Blythe Sealey, and junior outside hitter Makenna Bushman all were recognized for their individual play at the HIU Summer Slam.

Offensive Notes

- The Battlin' Bears have been one of the best serving teams in the country this season, as their 60 service aces ranks fifteenth in the NAIA so far this season.
- Blythe Sealey continues to be one of the nation's best setters, as she ranks fifteenth in the NAIA in total assists (249) entering this weekend.
- Similarly to last season, the Battlin' Bears feature a balanced offensive attack, with four players so far this season averaging two or more kills per set.
    Makenna Bushman - 3.10 k/s
    Bella Bryan - 2.57 k/s
    Kaitlyn Wood - 2.00 k/s
    Rhiannon Nez - 2.00 k/s

Defensive Notes

- Junior Brooke Ark has done well in the libero position so far this season, as the reigning Frontier Conference Defender of the Week ranks second among conference players in total digs (188) and digs per set (6.27) so far this season.
- The Battlin' Bears have held their opponents to a .149 hitting percentage so far this season.

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