Volleyball picks up win against SBU

The volleyball team lost its conference game against Drury University but came back with a victory against Southwest Baptist University, ending on a 10-14 record last weekend. The team traveled to Springfield, Missouri, on Friday to face-off against Drury, only to be beaten 0-3 with an unnerving first set of 24-26 followed by back-to-back sets of 19-25. The next day, the team made their way to Bolivar, Missouri, to play against Southwest Baptist. With a similarly close set of 25-23, the team won 3-0, stopping its three-game losing streak and coming back to Truman victorious. 

Outside hitter Morgan Smith said the team began with a rocky start to the conference, but it came together at the end of each game with a positive attitude.

“I think we’re really trying to focus on positivity and confidence and I think that’s been kind of a big struggle, especially, you know, if something doesn’t go perfectly or exactly the way we want it,” Smith said. “ We have been focusing on those errors, but like I said, we’re fixing it and working through it.”

Head coach Ben Briney said the team has been struggling with offense, but its defense has been solid. Briney said the Bulldogs practice anywhere from 15-18 hours a week to continually push themselves to improve teamwork and technique.

“It’s a great group of women,” Briney said. “They work hard every day in practice and they come in really taking to what we’re teaching them and really trying every day to just get better.”

Smith said the team was pretty young this year, with seven out of 17 members being freshmen, but it has been exciting to watch them learn and grow. She and outside hitter Ellie Kaat said the future looked bright for the team.

Kaat said the team went into the game with Drury with a positive outlook since they were strong competitors last season. She said no matter the result, the team was still going to come together and learn from every game that will come. 

The team’s next game will be this Friday, Nov. 1 at home against William Jewell University.