Move over Lindenwood.
For the first time in a while, the Lions might not be top feline in the HAAC jungle.
That’s the message the Wildcat volleyball team is sending to the NAIA Top-25 voters as it has cruised to an impressive 17-game win streak.
“I think we’ve been kind of overlooked (by the voters) because Lindenwood has dominated the conference for so long,” sophomore Brooke Allen said.
Now, at 18-1 and fresh off another conference victory over Culver-Stockton College Tuesday in their home opener at Collins Center, the Wildcats are showing they’re ready for respect.
“We’re proving ourselves very well right now,” Allen said. “We’re competing with, and beating a lot of good teams.”
Baker made quick work of the Wildcats on the opposing side of the net, winning in three games, 25-18, 25-20 and 25-22.
“Culver-Stockton is always a tough match because they are always unpredictable,” sophomore Kelsey Cobb said. “When we were down, we were confident we could come back. And most of (Culver-Stockton’s) points came off our mistakes.”
Sitting atop the conference standings at 3-0, mistakes are something the Wildcats have kept to a minimum. Still, Allen said the team is striving to continue improving as the year progresses.
“I guess there is always stuff we can work on,” she said. “This whole year, what we’ve been working on is trying to stay relaxed and play our game. We can always keep working on that.”
The squad’s game has primarily revolved around allowing junior Brooke Pryor to dominate the net, as she’s No. 1 in the HAAC in kills, averaging 4.15 per game. Her kills, coupled with Allen’s defensive prowess, earned the two women HAAC Player and Libero of the Week honors, respectively. In addition, freshman Jana Boss snagged HAAC Setter of the Week last week, giving Baker the sweep of the awards.
Cobb said the squad knew it had potential to be special this season, but to have this record through 19 games was unforeseen.
“I knew we had lots of talented players and a chance to be really good,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of chemistry, but I didn’t know we’d be this good.”
While Allen was quick to point out that the team wants to win every game on its schedule, she did acknowledge that the upcoming matches against Benedictine College and Lindenwood University had tracings of a star next to them.
“I mean every game we want to win, but, oh, Lindenwood,” she said, voice rising. “That’s a team we just want to cream.”
The squad travels to Ottawa University to play Ottawa and Bethel College Friday, and then will have its first crack at Benedictine Tuesday at Collins Center.
