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The Truman volleyball team heads to its fourth and final Invitational of the season this weekend when the Bulldogs head to Russellville, Ark., for four matches in two days at Arkansas Tech University.

The Bulldogs (10-8) will face future MIAA-foe Lindenwood (Mo.) University and Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Friday, Oct. 14, before taking on Henderson (Ark.) State and host ATU on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Truman is coming off a 1-2 week of MIAA play, seeing its record move to 2-4 overall in the conference through six matches.

The ’Dogs opened the week with a three-set loss to then-No. 8 Central Missouri on Wednesday (Oct. 5) night before splitting five-set weekend matches with Northwest Missouri (Oct. 7, loss) and Missouri Western (Oct. 8, win).

For the week, junior Megan Sharpe and senior Molly Sinclair became the first Bulldogs to put down 20-kills in a match, as Sharpe totaled 20 against NWMSU and Sinclair added 20 against MWSU.

 Sharpe finished her week with 2.92 kills/set and a .346 hitting percentage, while Sinclair and freshman Allie Brak both put up more than two kills per set on the outside. Freshman libero Abby Moser posted 6.31 digs per set.

Checking Out the Competition:

Lindenwood (Mo.) “Lions” (13-9)

Currently in the midst of transitioning to the NCAA Div. II ranks, St. Louis-based Lindenwood University will meet the Bulldogs in a preview of future MIAA competition in the tournament opener on Friday. LU joins the MIAA next season.

The Lions have won seven of their last ten, albeit going just 1-1 against Div. II teams in that span.

LU also competed at the SBU Purple Bash in mid-September, defeating three MIAA teams that weekend – including Fort Hays, Southwest Baptist and Northwest Missouri.

Sioux Falls (S.D.) “Cougars” (6-17)

The Cougars, who are also transitioning to Div. II, will be future regional foes of Truman, as USF will be joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference starting next season.

The Bulldogs only have one common opponent so far in 2011 with USF, as the Cougars were swept in the season-opener by Fort Hays State.

Henderson (Ark.) State “Lady Reddies” (4-16)

Members of the newly-formed Great American Conference, HSU is off to a 4-16 record in 2011 and has been winless in six straight since Sept. 19-20, when they won back-to-back matches.

The Lady Reddies were swept by Southern Arkansas on Oct. 6, a team Truman swept at the SBU Purple Bash in mid-September.

Arkansas Tech “Golden Suns” (21-3)

Also members of the GAC, Arkansas Tech has put together a solid season entering this weekend’s action, leading the newly-formed league with an 8-0 conference record.

Truman and ATU have three common opponents so far in 2011, with the Golden Suns winning 3-0 against Southern Arkansas but losing to both Texas A&M-International and Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Courtesy Truman State University

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