The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

The Truman volleyball team is set to log nearly 1,500 miles in five days to play three key road matches, beginning on Friday night against the nation’s lone unbeaten team, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, before facing Fort Hays State on Saturday and Missouri S&T on Tuesday.
 
The Bulldogs, currently riding a season-high seven-match winning streak, will head to Kearney for the second time this season, having posted a 3-1 record at the Loper Invitational in mid-September.

This time, however, the toughest challenge of the season awaits, as UNK holds the top spot in the AVCA top-25 coaches’ poll and stands as Division II’s last remaining unblemished squad at 18-0.
 
Following the UNK match is a fast turnaround in Hays, Kansas, against the FHSU Tigers, an 18-win squad already in 2012, on Saturday at 3:00 pm.

After a return to Kirksville, the Bulldogs will turn around and travel to future-GLVC foe and in-state rival Missouri S&T on Tuesday night for a 7:00 pm match against a 13-5 Miner squad entering this week of play.
 
Truman, meanwhile, is on a red-hot run of its own, having jumped out to a 16-4 (5-2 MIAA) start through 20 matches. In the current seven-match win streak, the Bulldogs are hitting .305 as a team, holding opponents to an .091 mark, and have won 21 of 24 sets.
 
Reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Allie Brak leads the squad in kills (3.69) and points (4.15) per set, while hitting .248 on the outside. In the middle, three-time AVCA all-American Megan Sharpe is tallying her best statistical season yet with 3.17 kills and 1.22 blocks per set, coupled with a robust .375 attack percentage.

Freshman right-side Abby Heise has steadily raised her numbers to 2.05 k/s and .273 attacking.
 
Sophomore setter Meghan Zimmerman continues to guide the offense, averaging 9.99 assists and 2.67 digs per set, with fellow sophomore Abby Moser leading the back line with 4.29 digs per set.
 
The Bulldogs are coached by Ben Briney, who, in his fourth season at the helm, has compiled an overall record of 85-39.

Courtesy Truman State University