WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College volleyball will make its long-awaited 2026 debut inside Stewart Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 23, when the Moundbuilders host the University of Saint Mary Spires in KCAC action. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Southwestern enters its first home match of the season with a (4-6) (0-1). Saint Mary comes to Winfield at (7-10) (0-0).
The Moundbuilders will look to capitalize on their first opportunity to compete in front of the home crowd after opening the season with 10 consecutive matches away from Stewart Field House. Southwestern has played four true road matches and six neutral-site contests through Sept. 12.
Southwestern enters Wednesday's matchup averaging 10.58 kills, 9.80 assists, 2.25 service aces, 16.00 digs and 1.10 blocks per set. The Moundbuilders have recorded 423 kills while hitting .138 as a team through 40 sets.
Kamryn Deffebaugh leads Southwestern with 77 kills and averages 2.20 kills per set, while Macey Collier has provided an efficient presence at the net with 75 kills and a .262 hitting percentage. Collier also leads the Moundbuilders defensively at the net with 25 total blocks.
Charli Richardson has added 61 kills, while Haleigh Weber has recorded 40 kills and 16 blocks. Mikki Johnson has averaged a team-best 2.44 kills per set in 16 sets played.
Natalie Blaufuss directs much of the Southwestern offense with 182 assists, averaging 4.55 per set. She has also been one of the Moundbuilders' biggest threats from the service line, leading the team with 25 aces.
Defensively, Brooklyn Milleson has anchored the back row with 168 digs and an average of 4.20 per set. Ariel Heinrich has added 103 digs, while Blaufuss has collected 84.
Southwestern's ability to pressure opponents from the service line could play an important role Wednesday. The Moundbuilders average 2.25 aces per set, compared with Saint Mary's 1.90. Southwestern has also averaged 16 digs per set, giving the Moundbuilders a slight statistical advantage over the Spires' 15.03.
Saint Mary presents a different challenge at the net. Through 63 sets, the Spires have accumulated 143.5 total blocks and average 2.28 blocks per set. Their blocking production has been one of their strongest statistical areas and could challenge Southwestern's hitters throughout the match.
Kaylee Kindall leads that effort with 72 total blocks, including nine solo blocks, while also providing an efficient offensive option. Kindall has 103 kills and a team-best .295 hitting percentage among Saint Mary's primary attackers.
Emma Murphy has added 94 kills and 42 blocks, while Makenza Holly has recorded 86 kills and 49 blocks. Kayla Adeoye has contributed 78 kills, giving the Spires several options across the front row.
Addison Baker has handled the majority of Saint Mary's setting duties, totaling 335 assists for an average of 5.40 per set. Baker also leads the Spires with 25 service aces. Defensively, Dakotah Garcia has a team-high 195 digs, while Baker has added 137.
While Saint Mary's blocking provides a clear strength, Southwestern enters with an advantage in offensive efficiency. The Moundbuilders are hitting .138 and averaging 10.58 kills per set, while the Spires are hitting .110 with 9.65 kills per set. Saint Mary's opponents have hit .172 and averaged 12.13 kills per set.
The matchup could come down to which team is better able to impose its strengths. Southwestern's serving and back-row defense can create opportunities to keep Saint Mary out of system, while the Spires will look to use their size and blocking presence to disrupt the Moundbuilders at the net.
The teams last met Sept. 24, 2025, at the Ryan Sports Center in Leavenworth, Kansas, where Saint Mary earned a 3-0 victory. The opening set was the closest of the match, with the Spires edging Southwestern 26-24 before taking the next two sets 25-19 and 25-19.
Southwestern hit .143 in that meeting with 27 kills, while Saint Mary finished with 37 kills and a .220 hitting percentage. The Spires also held an 11-4 advantage in service aces.
Several current Moundbuilders contributed in last season's matchup. Autumn Bennett finished with eight kills, while Haleigh Weber recorded two kills and Macey Collier added four kills while hitting .286. Natalie Blaufuss totaled 11 assists and an ace.
Saint Mary also returns several players who appeared in the 2025 meeting. MJ Stephens finished with 11 kills and hit .292, while Saige Hadley recorded five kills on a .308 hitting percentage. Baker contributed 15 assists, and Garcia finished with 11 digs and two aces.
Wednesday's meeting gives Southwestern an opportunity to reverse last season's result while opening the home portion of its schedule against a conference opponent.
