WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College volleyball returns to KCAC action Wednesday, Sept. 30, when the Builders travel to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to face Oklahoma Wesleyan University. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mueller Sports Center.
Southwestern (5-8) (0-3). Oklahoma Wesleyan is (7-12) (1-2).
The Builders enter Wednesday's match with momentum after defeating Cottey College in four sets Monday at Stewart Fieldhouse. Southwestern won 25-11, 20-25, 25-19 and 27-25, improving to 5-8 and earning its first home victory of the season.
Through 51 sets, Southwestern has recorded 562 kills while averaging 11.02 kills per set and hitting .147. The Builders have added 519 assists, 106 service aces and 767 digs while averaging 15.04 digs per set.
Mikki Johnson has provided a strong offensive presence for Southwestern, totaling 83 kills in 27 sets and averaging a team-high 3.07 kills per set. Johnson is coming off an 18-kill performance against Cottey and has recorded 26 kills over Southwestern's last two matches.
Charli Richardson leads the Builders in total kills with 101 and averages 2.30 per set while adding 81 digs. Kamryn Deffebaugh has contributed 81 kills, while Haleigh Weber has provided efficiency at the net with 55 kills and a .210 hitting percentage.
Natalie Blaufuss continues to direct the Southwestern offense with 249 assists, averaging 4.88 per set. She also leads the Builders with 28 service aces and has collected 102 digs. Kadance Heumann has added 42 assists and six aces.
Defensively, Brooklyn Milleson leads Southwestern with 203 digs and averages 3.98 per set. Ariel Heinrich has contributed 119 digs and 14 service aces.
Southwestern's serving pressure has been one of its strengths this season. The Builders average 2.08 service aces per set, giving them an opportunity to disrupt opposing offenses before they can establish their attack. Southwestern has also shown the ability to produce from multiple attacking positions, which was evident against Cottey when four Builders finished with double-digit kills.
Oklahoma Wesleyan enters Wednesday averaging 12.43 kills per set and hitting .171 through 68 sets. The Eagles have totaled 845 kills, 790 assists, 101 service aces, 1,123 digs and 95 blocks.
Maia Rubio has been a consistent part of the Eagles' attack with 185 kills, averaging 2.72 per set. Maria Andrea Santa Cruz Cossich has also provided Oklahoma Wesleyan with significant offensive production in the statistics provided, while Anja Grkinic has recorded 84 kills with a .267 hitting percentage.
Jaylea Laughlin directs the Eagles' offense with 536 assists and averages 7.88 assists per set. She has also contributed 145 digs and 13 service aces. Maria Luisa Caycedo has anchored the Oklahoma Wesleyan defense with 286 digs in 57 sets, an average of 5.02 per set.
At the net, Iva Mrkaic leads Oklahoma Wesleyan with 40 total blocks, while Grkinic has recorded 25. The Eagles average 1.40 blocks per set as a team.
Oklahoma Wesleyan's statistical profile points to an offense that generates more kills per set than Southwestern and relies on Laughlin to distribute the ball to multiple attacking options. The Eagles also average 16.51 digs per set, making extended rallies and offensive patience important for the Builders.
Southwestern's ability to create pressure from the service line could play an important role in limiting Oklahoma Wesleyan's offensive rhythm. The Builders will also look to carry over the balanced attack they displayed against Cottey, when Johnson, Richardson, Weber and Kailey Lesquier each reached double figures in kills.
The teams last met Oct. 1, 2025, at Stewart Fieldhouse in Winfield. Oklahoma Wesleyan earned a 3-0 victory, winning 25-22, 25-14 and 25-12.
Wednesday's meeting gives Southwestern an opportunity to build on Monday's victory while pursuing its first KCAC win of the season. The matchup will feature Southwestern's serving pressure and improving offensive balance against an Oklahoma Wesleyan team that has shown strength in attacking production, setting and back-row defense.
