GAMEDAY in the GREENHOUSE: Seward County vs. Dodge City

MATCH PREVIEW:

For the first time in 11 matches this season, the Lady Saints will christen the new Greenhouse floor tonight in Liberal as they host the Dodge City Conquistadors in an early season Jayhawk West battle.  Tonight marks a big match for both sides as Seward looks to remain with the pack atop the league standings while Dodge City looks to get in the win column in conference play for the first time.  Seward has had their way with the Conqs over the past 10 seasons, going 22-3 against Dodge including a pair of wins last season. 

Playing a difficult early season schedule that has included four ranked opponents and the top two teams from a season ago in the Jayhawk West, the Lady Saints are off to a 4-6 start and a 1-1 beginning to their conference schedule.  Seward has struggled to find their consistency offensively with just one player hitting over .200 on the season and just one player averaging over 2.00 kills per set on the year.  Sophomore Alex Wood has been a force for Seward thus far, leading the team and ranking 2nd in the Jayhawk West with 122 kills on the year.  Wood has four double-doubles on the year and has been named to the All-Tournament Team of both of the Lady Saints tournaments so far this year and has also been named Jayhawk West Player of the Week. 

Dodge is looking to rebuild this season after a disastrous end to 2014 that saw them lose their final 26 matches of the year.  The Conqs are 2-10 in 2015 with a pair of wins over Trinidad State. They, like Seward have had trouble putting the ball away, averaging just 8.17 kills per set on the season while hitting just .119 as a team.  Sada Smith has been a bright spot, averaging 2.69 kills and 3.72 digs per set.