Murray State University Athletics
Racers Start Four-Match Road Swing at Austin Peay
10/1/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Matches
After a brief stint in Racer Arena the Murray State volleyball team hits the road again for a four-game road swing. The road stand begins, Friday, Oct. 3 in Clarksville, Tenn., when the Racers (5-9, 2-2 OVC) face Austin Peay at 7 p.m. MSU will conclude the weekend's matches in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State, Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.
About Austin Peay
The Lady Govs head into Friday's match with an 11-5 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Stephanie Champine and Jessica Mollman are the offensive leaders for Austin Peay, with 194 and 182 kills, respectively. Mollman has also recorded 14 service aces and 29 total blocks, while Champine has added 11 aces and 163 digs.
Caroline Frens is the teams leading digger and server, with 230 digs and 20 service aces. The Lady Govs are utilizing two setters this campaign. Sarah Alisaleh has tallied 358 assists, while garnering 37 service aces and 145 digs for Austin Peay. Marie Mullins is the second setter, with 261 assists.
Austin Peay is a solid team all around this season, with top-100 rankings in all five NCAA statistical categories. The Lady Govs are ranked 19th in digs, 23rd in service aces, 74th in assists, 78th in hitting percentage, and 87th in kills.
Against the Lady Govs
In two matches a year ago, senior Alison Mugler was the Racer's top producer. Mugler tallied a team-high 30 kills, hit .348, and added 35 digs and two service aces. Sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden were right behind Mugler on the kills list, with 29 and 28, respectively. Both players were also strong blockers combining for nine total blocks.
The top returners for the Lady Govs are Jessica Mollman and Kristin Distler. Mollman tallied 24 kills, while Distler added 19.
The Series
The series with Austin Peay is one of the longest in MSU history, with Friday's meeting accounting for the 57th contest. The Racers currently own a 29-27 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in the last four matches.
About Tennessee State
After winning the 2007 OVC Tournament Championship, the Lady Tigers are having a slow start to the 2008 campaign. TSU is currently 2-8 overall and 1-2 in league action.
The Lady Tigers returned only two member of the 2007 championships squad, and they are currently the team's leaders. Christian Lowe leads the team in kills (133) and blocks (22). She is also in the top-3 in hitting percentage (.160), digs (78), and service aces (5). The senior accounts for 34 percent of the teams kills and 33 percent of the team total attempts.
Candace Saleaumua is the only other returner for TSU and leads the team in assists (147) and digs (136).
As a team, the Lady Tigers are hitting only .118 (397k-249e-1256ta).
Against the Lady Tigers
TSU went 2-1 against the Racers in 2007, including a meeting in the opening round of the 2007 OVC Championship. MSU was led by senior Alison Mugler, with 39 kills, three service aces, and 44 digs. Sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden also stepped up with 34 and 24 kills, respectively.
Christian Lowe tallied 39 kills, 42 digs, and 12 blocks for the Lady Tigers. There only other returner, Candace Saleaumua added 51 digs and 132 assists in the three matches.
The Series
This will be the 41st meeting in the all-time series between the two teams, with MSU holding a 35-5 advantage. TSU has been victories in the last two matches, but the Racers earned the last victory in Nashville.
Steady Sara
Sophomore Sara Hayden has been a consistent leader for the Racers since the start of OVC action. The Louisville, Ky., native was the top kills producer in the last four matches and is now leading the team with a .335 hitting percentage. She is also the team's leading blocker with 37 (5-32), which is good enough to be ranked No. 5 in the conference for her 0.76 blocks per set.
Hayden is also moved up to the No. 116 spot (.326) in the country in hitting percentage in matches through Sep. 28. She was ranked No. 321 through Sep. 21 with a .259 attack percentage.
Nenninger Honored
Sophomore Ashley Nenninger earned the Racers first OVC Player of the Week honor this week when she was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The Marble Hill, Mo., native recorded a career-high eight blocks against Eastern Kentucky as she finished with a team-best 17 blocks for the week. She also tallied five blocks against Eastern Illinois and closed out the week with four versus Morehead State.
Tale of Two Seasons
Since the start of OVC competition MSU has made great strides in two statistical categories, hitting percentage and blocks. Overall this season the Racers have a .175 (601k-268e-1898ta) hitting percentage, but have raised that number to .221 (194k-67e-575ta) against conference opponents.
MSU has also stepped up its blocking, with 2.5 blocks/set against league opponents, compared to a 1.7 blocks/set overall this year.
Mugler Moving Up the Lists
Senior Alison Mugler jumped up one more spot on the Racer's All-Time Dig List after a 21 dig performance against Southern Illinois. The Maumee, Ohio, native needed just 20 digs to claim the No. 5 spot from Jill McCoy (1,464) before the match. Mugler will now be aiming for Jill Doty's No. 4 position (1,599) and will need 134 to claim the spot.
Climbing Career Charts
Two members of the 2008 Racer roster have positioned themselves on the Murray State all-time leader boards and are poised to move up on those lists this season.
Besides Alison Mugler, fellow senior Heather Norris finished the 2007 campaign in the No. 2 spot on the all-time digs list. The Naperville, Ill., native now needs just 56 to claim the No. 1 spot from Kim Koehler (1,994). Koehler has owned the record since 1990, prior to the institution of the libero position in 2004.
Norris' eight digs against the Salukis moved her up one position on the OVC Dig Charts to No. 5. Heading into the match with Southern Illinois, the libero needed just two digs to claim the spot from Jessica Sabath (EKU-1,933). MSU's Kim Koehler is currently in the No. 4 position in the OVC standings.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 84 aces so far in her career, including eight so far in 2008. If the senior hits 16 more on the year she will become just the sixth Racer player to tally 1,000 digs and 100 service aces.
Fellow senior Alison Mugler also has a chance to make the list, as she has 65 aces so far in her career. If she were to hit the mark she could be just the fourth MSU player to record 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, and 100 service aces.
Mugler Approaching Elite Club
Besides her membership in the 1,000 Dig Club, senior Alison Mugler is approaching membership in the 1,000 Kill Club. The Maumee, Ohio, native is currently nine kills away from becoming just the eighth member of the club. Mugler will be the first to reach the milestone since 1999 when Krista Shumard ended her career with 1,023 kills. The outside hitter has averaged 305 kills a season and is currently No. 9 on the all-time kill list with 991.
After a brief stint in Racer Arena the Murray State volleyball team hits the road again for a four-game road swing. The road stand begins, Friday, Oct. 3 in Clarksville, Tenn., when the Racers (5-9, 2-2 OVC) face Austin Peay at 7 p.m. MSU will conclude the weekend's matches in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State, Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.
About Austin Peay
The Lady Govs head into Friday's match with an 11-5 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Stephanie Champine and Jessica Mollman are the offensive leaders for Austin Peay, with 194 and 182 kills, respectively. Mollman has also recorded 14 service aces and 29 total blocks, while Champine has added 11 aces and 163 digs.
Caroline Frens is the teams leading digger and server, with 230 digs and 20 service aces. The Lady Govs are utilizing two setters this campaign. Sarah Alisaleh has tallied 358 assists, while garnering 37 service aces and 145 digs for Austin Peay. Marie Mullins is the second setter, with 261 assists.
Austin Peay is a solid team all around this season, with top-100 rankings in all five NCAA statistical categories. The Lady Govs are ranked 19th in digs, 23rd in service aces, 74th in assists, 78th in hitting percentage, and 87th in kills.
Against the Lady Govs
In two matches a year ago, senior Alison Mugler was the Racer's top producer. Mugler tallied a team-high 30 kills, hit .348, and added 35 digs and two service aces. Sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden were right behind Mugler on the kills list, with 29 and 28, respectively. Both players were also strong blockers combining for nine total blocks.
The top returners for the Lady Govs are Jessica Mollman and Kristin Distler. Mollman tallied 24 kills, while Distler added 19.
The Series
The series with Austin Peay is one of the longest in MSU history, with Friday's meeting accounting for the 57th contest. The Racers currently own a 29-27 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in the last four matches.
About Tennessee State
After winning the 2007 OVC Tournament Championship, the Lady Tigers are having a slow start to the 2008 campaign. TSU is currently 2-8 overall and 1-2 in league action.
The Lady Tigers returned only two member of the 2007 championships squad, and they are currently the team's leaders. Christian Lowe leads the team in kills (133) and blocks (22). She is also in the top-3 in hitting percentage (.160), digs (78), and service aces (5). The senior accounts for 34 percent of the teams kills and 33 percent of the team total attempts.
Candace Saleaumua is the only other returner for TSU and leads the team in assists (147) and digs (136).
As a team, the Lady Tigers are hitting only .118 (397k-249e-1256ta).
Against the Lady Tigers
TSU went 2-1 against the Racers in 2007, including a meeting in the opening round of the 2007 OVC Championship. MSU was led by senior Alison Mugler, with 39 kills, three service aces, and 44 digs. Sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden also stepped up with 34 and 24 kills, respectively.
Christian Lowe tallied 39 kills, 42 digs, and 12 blocks for the Lady Tigers. There only other returner, Candace Saleaumua added 51 digs and 132 assists in the three matches.
The Series
This will be the 41st meeting in the all-time series between the two teams, with MSU holding a 35-5 advantage. TSU has been victories in the last two matches, but the Racers earned the last victory in Nashville.
Steady Sara
Sophomore Sara Hayden has been a consistent leader for the Racers since the start of OVC action. The Louisville, Ky., native was the top kills producer in the last four matches and is now leading the team with a .335 hitting percentage. She is also the team's leading blocker with 37 (5-32), which is good enough to be ranked No. 5 in the conference for her 0.76 blocks per set.
Hayden is also moved up to the No. 116 spot (.326) in the country in hitting percentage in matches through Sep. 28. She was ranked No. 321 through Sep. 21 with a .259 attack percentage.
Nenninger Honored
Sophomore Ashley Nenninger earned the Racers first OVC Player of the Week honor this week when she was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The Marble Hill, Mo., native recorded a career-high eight blocks against Eastern Kentucky as she finished with a team-best 17 blocks for the week. She also tallied five blocks against Eastern Illinois and closed out the week with four versus Morehead State.
Tale of Two Seasons
Since the start of OVC competition MSU has made great strides in two statistical categories, hitting percentage and blocks. Overall this season the Racers have a .175 (601k-268e-1898ta) hitting percentage, but have raised that number to .221 (194k-67e-575ta) against conference opponents.
MSU has also stepped up its blocking, with 2.5 blocks/set against league opponents, compared to a 1.7 blocks/set overall this year.
Mugler Moving Up the Lists
Senior Alison Mugler jumped up one more spot on the Racer's All-Time Dig List after a 21 dig performance against Southern Illinois. The Maumee, Ohio, native needed just 20 digs to claim the No. 5 spot from Jill McCoy (1,464) before the match. Mugler will now be aiming for Jill Doty's No. 4 position (1,599) and will need 134 to claim the spot.
Climbing Career Charts
Two members of the 2008 Racer roster have positioned themselves on the Murray State all-time leader boards and are poised to move up on those lists this season.
Besides Alison Mugler, fellow senior Heather Norris finished the 2007 campaign in the No. 2 spot on the all-time digs list. The Naperville, Ill., native now needs just 56 to claim the No. 1 spot from Kim Koehler (1,994). Koehler has owned the record since 1990, prior to the institution of the libero position in 2004.
Norris' eight digs against the Salukis moved her up one position on the OVC Dig Charts to No. 5. Heading into the match with Southern Illinois, the libero needed just two digs to claim the spot from Jessica Sabath (EKU-1,933). MSU's Kim Koehler is currently in the No. 4 position in the OVC standings.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 84 aces so far in her career, including eight so far in 2008. If the senior hits 16 more on the year she will become just the sixth Racer player to tally 1,000 digs and 100 service aces.
Fellow senior Alison Mugler also has a chance to make the list, as she has 65 aces so far in her career. If she were to hit the mark she could be just the fourth MSU player to record 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, and 100 service aces.
Mugler Approaching Elite Club
Besides her membership in the 1,000 Dig Club, senior Alison Mugler is approaching membership in the 1,000 Kill Club. The Maumee, Ohio, native is currently nine kills away from becoming just the eighth member of the club. Mugler will be the first to reach the milestone since 1999 when Krista Shumard ended her career with 1,023 kills. The outside hitter has averaged 305 kills a season and is currently No. 9 on the all-time kill list with 991.
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