This past week the SSU Volleyball Team opened up their season. They started their season traveling to Mount Vernon Nazarene to face off against the Tigers of Georgetown College and the Cougars of MVNU, splitting the two opponents. To finish the week they traveled to Rio Grande University to play part in the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Classic. After the final game yesterday afternoon, the Bears finished the week 4-2 and on a three-game win streak.
Opening Day
SSU took the trip north to start the season with a Tri-Match against former Mid-South Conference opponent Georgetown College and former American Mideast Conference opponent Mount Vernon Nazarene University. In game one of the evenings, the Bears face the Tigers and would have three hard-fought sets on their hands. They were victors in all three sets. Kylie Barney with eight kills and Haidyn Wamsley with five blocks helped lead the way for the Bears in game one. They then face off against the MVNU. After another three tough sets, the Bears would be outmatched by the Cougars and fall in three sets.
Friday Night
Shawnee State traveled to Rio Grande to take part in their Memorial Classic. On day one the Bears played Milligan University, Olivia Fliehman tallied 14 kills over the four sets that were played, but that was not enough as the Bears fell to the Buffs 3-1. SSU's next opponent was new conference member Point Park University. The Bears and Pioneers battled for four sets, Shawnee State came out victorious behind Bethany Colling who had 17 kills, Wamsley who had 11 blocks, and Ava Jenkins who had 25 digs.
Saturday Afternoon
Shawnee State faced RSC foes WVU Tech and Ohio Christian University, facing the Golden Bears first. The first set went to WVU Tech, but that did not stop SSU as they defeated Tech over the next three sets, Barney, with nine kills and six blocks helped Shawnee State become victors of game three of the classic. In the final game of the classic, Shawnee fell behind early again as the Trailblazers claimed set one, but once again that did not stop the Bears as they went on to win the next three sets. With the classic complete, Shawnee came out with a 3-1 record and is on a three-game win streak.
The next game for the Bears is Wednesday, September 6 at 6 PM. They will face former conference rival the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands.
