The Truman Report: September, 2012
GLVC member Truman State's fall sports performance for September
Jeff Smith, Assistant Commissioner & Jessica Yocum, GLVC Intern
Getting to Know the Truman State University Bulldogs
This past June, Truman State University (Mo.) was introduced as the newest member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) after the league’s Council of Presidents voted unanimously to accept the Truman Bulldogs into the conference. The Bulldogs will begin play in the GLVC in all sports beginning in the fall of 2013, competing as the league’s 16th member.
Throughout the 2012-13 season, GLVCsports.com will highlight the performances of each in-season Bulldog team from the previous month as Truman concludes play in its final year in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
|
Sport |
Truman |
GLVC (arv - Also Receiving Votes) |
|
Football |
-- |
arv Indianapolis |
|
Volleyball |
arv |
#9 Indianapolis, arv Lewis |
|
Men's Soccer |
-- |
#8 Drury, #16 Rockhurst, arv Quincy |
|
Women's Soccer |
#18 |
#12 Rockhurst, #20 William Jewell,
arv Quincy |
|
Men's Cross Country |
-- |
#8 Southern Indiana, #15 Lewis,
#27 UW-Parkside |
|
Women's Cross Country |
-- |
#34 Southern Indiana |
FOOTBALL (3-2, 2-2 MIAA, 9th)
The Truman football team jumped out to a 3-0 start to open the 2012 campaign, however as fallen in the last two conference games to bring its record to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Bulldogs went on the road to defeat Southwest Baptist (Mo.) 24-14 and returned home to beat Lincoln (Mo.) by a 42-12 count in Kirksville. TSU then had no problems putting away Northwestern Oklahoma State at home, winning 63-21. At 3-0, Truman hit the big stage and the small screen as the 38-17 loss at Central Missouri was televised to a national audience on CBS Sports Network as its Game of the Week. The contest was the 96th game played in Division II football’s fourth-oldest series, which dates back to 1905. Following the loss, Truman dropped a 37-23 decision at home to Fort Hays (Kan.) State. The ‘Dogs currently rank in the top 20 nationally in two statistical categories, while three standouts are among the nation’s top 25 individually. Truman is tied for 18th in sacks (3.40) and 20 in punting (37.27), while senior Michael Elliott is tied for first in interceptions (1.00), junior Dallas Grier is 10th in punt returns (17.50) and senior Patrick Blackwell is tied for 22nd in sacks (1.00).
VOLLEYBALL (12-4, 5-2 MIAA, 5th)
The Truman volleyball team has won the last three matches to bring its season record to 12-4. The Bulldogs are led by senior Megan Sharpe, who has a hitting percentage of .337, and sophomore Allie Brak, who is hitting at a .213 clip on the season and .355 in MIAA play. Sophomore libero Abby Moser has anchored the defense for the Bulldogs by averaging 4.37 digs per set, putting her 10th among MIAA competition. Adding to the success of the team is sophomore setter Meghan Zimmerman, who is dishing out 9.56 assists per set and setting the pace from the service line with a .910 success rate. The Bulldogs sit fifth in the MIAA and have been victorious over the GLVC’s McKendree, Maryville, Missouri-St. Louis, and Quincy this year. Only Missouri-St. Louis has been able to beat the Bulldogs in one very competitive set, while all other GLVC-member matches ended after three sets. The only other time Truman will face a GLVC opponent this season comes in mid-October with a matchup against GLVC West Division leader Missouri S&T.
MEN’S SOCCER (5-4-1, 3-1-1 MIAA, 4th)
The Truman men’s soccer team started the season playing GLVC members Quincy and Missouri S&T at the Quincy Bowl. While the team dropped both contests by the scores of 2-0 and 3-2, respectively, it was able to battle back to win three in a row before ending in a draw with MIAA leader Lindenwood. The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Andy Chapman, who has scored five of the team’s 20 season goals. Also competing for the limelight is redshirt-senior Charlie Backus, who is sixth in the NCAA in assists (6.0) and 11th in assists per game (.67). Juniors Matt Langley and Dylan Carter and sophomore Tony Luedecke have also helped anchor the scoring drives this season. Impressively, the Bulldog goalkeepers have limited their opponents to just 19 goals in 140 attempts. Truman ranks fourth in the MIAA soccer standings and are top-five in all categories of team statistics.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (8-2-1, 4-1 MIAA, 3rd)
The Truman women’s soccer team has started the 2012 season off strong with a record of 8-2-1. The Bulldogs have combined for 21 goals this season, led by junior Trisha Shoemaker, who is ranked 18th nationally in total goals (9.0) and 21st in total points (21.0). The junior also ranks sixth in game winning goals ( 4.0). With the impressive offensive, the anchor of the Bulldogs team is junior goalkeeper Emily Bozdeck. Having played all eleven games in the box, Bozdeck has posted seven shutouts, good for sixth in NCAA rankings. The keeper has also held opponents to a .599 goals-against average; putting her in the ranks of the nation’s top 25. In conference-only games, Truman leads the MIAA in points (7.40), goals per game (2.4), assists (13), assists per game (2.6), and shutouts (0.60). Olivia Hayes contributes to the MIAA rankings by leading in assists (3) and assists per game (0.60). The senior pushes Shoemaker the ball a majority of the time as she leads the MIAA in points (11), points per game (2.20), goals (5), and goals per game (1.00). Truman played GLVC member Quincy this past week resulting in a 1-1 tie. Truman outshot the Lady Hawks 25-14, but matched them with nine shots on goal. The result handed both teams the first tie of their respective seasons.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Truman’s men’s cross country team opened the season ranked 10th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. In its first two races of the season, the Bulldogs have placed eighth out of 13 teams at the 50th Les Duke Invitational and 14th out of 34 teams at the Brissman/Lundeen Cross Country Invitational. GLVC member Quincy finished 26th in the same event. Through two outings, sophomore Brad Hart has led Truman each time with top-30 results. Hart came in 22nd at the Les Duke Invitational with an 8K time of 26:43 and then finished 29th at the Brissman/Lundeen meet with a time of 26:08.6.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The Truman women’s cross country team entered the 2012 season ranked third in the MIAA and has since put forth a pair of top-10 finishes in its first two meets. The Bulldogs placed third at the 50th annual Les Duke Invitational, led by top-10 finishes by Karen and Cindy Grauel. Karen Grauel clocked a 6K time of 22:57, which was good for fifth overall. Cindy Grauel came in ninth at 23:27, while Katie Hirsch was 12th at 23:33. Last week, Karen Grauel was selected as the MIAA Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week after placing second out of 397 runners at the Brissman/Lundeen Invitational hosted by Augustana (Ill.) College. Grauel ran the 6K course in 22:17.90 to help the Bulldogs place seventh out of 32 teams entered in the meet. Her runner-up 6K time would actually qualify as the GLVC’s top 6K time this year, besting UW-Parkside’s Jessica Watychowicz’s conference-best time of 22:23.8. Cindy Grauel was the next Bulldog to cross the finish line in the event as she placed 14th overall in a time of 23:03.0, while Hirsch was 26th overall at 23:26.7. Those two times would currently rank third and fifth among the GLVC’s fastest 6K times.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Truman women’s golf team has hit the links a total of four times thus far this season and finished in the top 10 each time out. The Bulldogs’ time on the course has been highlighted by a top finish at the Mount Mercy Fall Invitational where the team shot a 674 (322-352) to win the event title. Senior Jessica Tomash tied for fifth at 166 (80-86) to lead the Bulldogs. Tomash has been Truman’s top finisher in three of their four outings. She is followed on the team in average team finishes by freshman Kim Barmettler. The Truman newcomer is the only one to beat out Tomash this fall, which occurred at Drury’s Fall Invitational where Truman placed ninth at 659 (332-327). The women’s golf team hosts the Truman Bulldog Fall Classic in October to finish off their fall season.