Spring Sports Preview

Photo by Bruna Pacheco

When I think about “spring,” there are a few things that I absolutely do not think about. Those things are cold, snow and warm clothes. It has been a freezing semester thus far and I have a feeling that it will stay like that for longer than we all would like.

Shouldn’t spring be about more time outside?

Oh well… Regardless of the cold, the spring season for the majority of the sports has recently begun and they play outside, which means that it is almost time to go wear some warm clothes and cheer for the Braves!

OU Baseball was voted to finish in eighth place in the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Last season, OU went 20-26 overall and 10-23 in conference play. At this time, they are 5-4 this season;they’ve beaten Southwestern Assemblies of God University twice, and  Hastings College three times.

OU Baseball will be playing at home against York College on Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. and Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. On Mar. 3, at 2 p.m., they will play Benedctine College. Then, against Kansas Wesleyan on Mar. 13, at 2 p.m. and Mar. 14, at 12:00 p.m.

OU Softball was voted to finish in second place at the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. In the previous season, they went 27-20 overall and 16-8 in conference play. They are currently 2-4, as they lost to Hastings College, Central Baptist College, William Woods University and Oklahoma City University. They beat Hastings College and University of the Southwest.

OU will be playing at home again on Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. against College of Saint Mary. On Feb. 29, the softball team will be playing against Grand View at 1 p.m, followed by facing Sterling College on Mar. 14, at 1 p.m.

Women’s Tennis was voted to finish in third place at the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The season before, OU went 11-8 overall and 7-2 in conference play. They are currently 2-0 as they beat William Jewell College and College of Saint Mary.

OU will have their first battle at home on Mar. 18, at 3 p.m. against Kansas Wesleyan University. Then, on Mar. 26, they will face Tabor College at 3 p.m. On Apr. 1, at 3 p.m., Bethany College will be the opponent.

Men’s Tennis was voted to finish third in the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Braves went 11-9 overall and 6-3 in conference play, a year ago. They are currently 0-2, as they had lost to Rockhurst College and William Jewell College.

OU will have their first battle at home on March 18 at 3 p.m. against Kansas Wesleyan University. Then, on Mar. 26, they will face Tabor College at 3 p.m. On Apr. 1, at 3 p.m. Bethany College will be the opponent of the turn.

Men’s Lacrosse is placed to finish fifth in the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Braves are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Poll. They went 7-6 overall and 5-1 in conference games last season.

Their first home game will be against Missouri Valley College on Mar. 24, at 7 p.m. Then, they will be facing Clarke University on Apr. 2, at 6 p.m. Saint Ambrose University will be their next contest at home on Apr. 4, at 4 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse is placed to finish second in the KCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Braves are receiving votes in the last NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Poll. They went 7-8 overall and 4-2 in conference games last year.

They will be challenging Morningside College on Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. On Mar. 24, they are back home to face Missouri Valley College at 4 p.m.

Track & Field men’s and women’s teams have been competing in their indoor season and setting new school records meet after meet.

New school records have been set in the weight throw, 600M, 60M Hurdles, 400M, 600 Yard Dash, and 1500M. The Braves will be competing in the KCAC Indoors Championship on Feb. 21 and 22 and try to qualify for the National Championship.

Men’s Volleyball is currently 5-3 this season and 0-1 in conference games. They are currently placing third in conference, and in tenth place on the last NAIA Coaches’ Top 10 Poll. Last season, they were 13-10 overall and 8-4 in conference games.

They will be back home hosting Dordt University and University of Jamestown on Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. and Feb. 28, at 7 p.m.

#BraveNation