NEWS AT THE NEST: Lady Eagle spikers eye opener; more
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s volleyball players won’t be easing quietly into the season.
After taking on national junior college power Cowley County (Kan.) College in a preseason match Wednesday, the Lady Eagles eye two grueling tests in Friday’s season opener.
The Lady Doggers will be journeying this weekend to the Mid-America Christian University/University of Science & Arts Oklahoma Cruisin’ Classic for the weekend foray.
On Friday, they face an Oklahoma City University squad that was ranked No. 3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll, and an up-and-coming University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma squad that also competes in the SAC.
“Right out of the gate it’s going to be a challenge,” OKWU head coach Tracie Gillett said about Friday’s matches. “Oklahoma City is usually Top 25 quality.”
Gillette’s collectively young Lady Eagle team landed at No. 5 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll.
She is eager to see how her talented retooled mix will compete going into the campaign.
Splitting setter duties will be veteran Addie Mathias and freshman Sydney Collins, a Bartlesville High product.
Also back are Oklahoma Union High graduates Lauren McKinney and Maddy McKinney.
“I think we made big strides on team chemistry this week,” Collins said. “I think my bread and butter will be defense. … I want to push this group early. I want to see how tough we are.”
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STAFF IN PLACE
New OKWU women’s basketball head coach Heidi Messer recently completed her complement of assistants.
Taneisha Aeschleman will fill the assistant coach billet while Brittany Wood will move into the graduate assistant role.
Aeschleman’s coaching stints include Jenks and Victory Christian. She also served as head coach for the AAU Oklahoma Power.
As a player, she experienced a national title with Illinois Central. Aeschleman hails from Illinois, where she is a member of two Hall of Fames.
Wood hails from Birmingham, Ala. She has coached at Jacksonville University.
She split her college playing days between Talladega College and Montevallo.
Messer took charge of an OKWU program that the past few seasons has recorded moderate success but has remained around the .500 mark.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Oklahoma Wesleyan University soccer eyes opener on Friday
