By: Ryan Luttrell, Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications and Media Relations
ROLLA, Mo. -- Missouri S&T Women's Volleyball will conclude their longest homestand of the season this weekend, wrapping up a three-match stretch at home. The Miners will take on the Maryville Saints this Saturday at 3pm in Gibson Arena.
About the Miners
S&T is seeking its first win against a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponent after dropping a pair of matches last weekend. The Miners still maintain a winning overall record at 7-6 this season.
The Miners' service game has been one of the best in the conference this year, ranking fourth in the GLVC in aces per set at 1.85. S&T also ranks fifth in the conference for aces allowed, limiting opponents to 1.38 aces per set. Elly Decker (Manhattan, IL/Lincoln-Way West) leads the Miners with 21 service aces this season, averaging 0.46 per set, while Chelsea Plunkett (Chesterfield, MO/Marquette) leads the team's serve-receive efforts with a .976 reception percentage on 164 attempts.
Madison Smith (Boonville, MO/Boonville) and Adelyn Weiler (Ste. Genevieve, MO/Valle Catholic) both continue to rank among the top 20 players in NCAA Division II in blocks and digs, respectively. Smith's 1.27 blocks per set lead the GLVC, well ahead of the next closest player at 1.09.
About Maryville
The Saints share the Miners' 7-6 overall record but are 2-0 in conference play after earning victories over Truman State and Upper Iowa last week. They defeated Upper Iowa in five sets on Friday before taking down Truman State 3-1 on Saturday.
Maryville leads the GLVC in digs per set at 19.15, which ranks ninth in NCAA Division II. Sophomore defensive specialist Mallory Sell leads the Saints with 5.56 digs per set, ranking sixth in Division II. Sell is also one of two Saints ranked among the GLVC's top 10 in aces per set, sitting fourth at 0.50. Teammate Emma Keele ranks seventh at 0.44 aces per set and also leads Maryville with 156 kills this season, averaging 3.00 per set to rank eighth in the conference.
What's Next
S&T will hit the road for their longest road trips of the season next week, heading to Lewis and Indianapolis.
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