Murray State University Athletics
Racers open Three Match OVC-Home Stand Against Southeast Missouri State
10/16/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Matches
After spending two weeks on the road the Murray State volleyball team returns to Racer Arena for three home matches. This weekend the Racers (7-11, 4-4 Ohio Valley Conference) will finish up the first round of OVC play when they take on Southeast Missouri State, Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. The second round will then start Saturday, Oct. 18, when MSU hosts Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m.
About Southeast Missouri State
The Redhawks are 7-8 overall and 5-3 in the OVC after a non-conference, 0-3, loss to Saint Louis Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Like MSU, SEMO has stepped up its play for the conference portion of the season. Overall the Redhawks are trailing their opponents in all statistical categories, but are close in all as well. This includes a .178 (639k-284e-1994ta) hitting percentage for SEMO and a .181 (720k-339e-2102) mark for its opponents.
However, in conference action the Redhawks have close to the same numbers ass their opponents, but have a clear advantage in the hitting percentage column. SEMO has a .222 (322k-120e-909ta) attack percentage in OVC play to its opponents .156 (326k-173e-977ta).
Defense is one of the keys to winning for the Redhawks, as they are ranked 8th in the nation in digs per set (17.33 through Oct. 12). Molly Davis is the leader in the digs column for SEMO, with 240 this season, good for a No. 50 ranking in the nation (4.48/set).
Offensively the Redhawks are led by Claire Keaton, Emily Hughes, and Karleigh DeLong. Keaton has seen more attempts this season overall, but in OVC action she shares the sets with DeLong with around 200 each. Keaton has tallied a team-high 177 kills, while DeLong has garnered 99. Hughes is second on the team in kills with 101, while adding a team-leading 40 blocks.
Against the Redhawks
MSU was victories in both matches against SEMO last year, with both victories being 3-0. Of the returning members of the 2007 squad, sophomore Sara Hayden led the way with 22 kills, a .360 (22k-4e-50ta) hitting percentage, and six blocks.
Fellow sophomore Becca Lamb also had two key performances, recording 21 kills for the Racers. Senior Alison Mugler was also strong for MSU with three of the team's 10 service aces, 18 kills, and 30 digs.
Senior Heather Norris has had several key matchups with the Redhawks, recording a career-high 40 ups Nov. 6, 2006 in Racer Arena.
Emily Hughes and Karleigh DeLong are the top returners for SEMO from a year ago. DeLong tallied 23 kills and 32 digs, with Hughes added 11 kills.
The Series
The Redhawks currently own a 41-13 advantage in the all-time series, but the Racers have been on the winning side of the court in the last two meetings. SEMO also has an advantage when playing in Racer Arena (6-17), but again MSU has earned the last two wins in Murray.
About Eastern Illinois
The Panthers have had a tough season so far in 2008, with a 4-14 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the OVC. EIU recently snapped an 11 match losing streak, in which they fell 0-3 in all the matches, with a 3-2 win over Tennessee State.
Alex Zwettler is the top offensive producer for the Panthers, with 137 kills on 410 attempts. The outside-hitter has also tallied 127 digs, 12 bocks, and seven service aces.
Lauren Sopcic has been a key force at the net for EIU with a team-leading 27 blocks.
The Panthers have struggled with errors this season, hitting only .117 (604k-363e-2053ta) to their opponents .215 (746k-304e-2047ta) mark. EIU has also committed 108 service errors, but tallied only 63 aces on the year.
Against the Panthers
The Racers and the Panthers have meet once already this season, with MSU coming back from Charleston with a 3-0 victory.
Sophomore Sara Hayden led the way for the Racers with 10 kills, while three other players added eight. Sophomore Ashley Nenninger was one of those with eight and added a team-high five blocks.
MSU hit .243 (39k-13e-107ta) on the day while holding the Panthers to a .068 (31k-23e-117ta) hitting percentage.
The Series
Saturday's match will be the 30th in the all-time series that dates back to the 1990 campaign. EIU is currently ahead in the series with an 18-11 mark, but the Racers have won the last five matches. MSU will also be looking to even up the series in Murray, which currently sits at 7-6 in favor of the Panthers.
Digging Up Success
In last Saturday's 3-0 victory at Jacksonville State, senior Heather Norris recorded her 1,995th career dig, moving her into the No. 1 spot on MSU's all-time digs list. The libero broke the 1990 record set by Kim Koehler of 1,994 digs.
Her accomplishment also moved Norris into the No. 4 spot on the OVC standings in the same category.
The new record is noteworthy because Koehler's numbers came when teams played more matches and had more opportunities to increase their numbers because there was no rally scoring.
Applauding Alison
In Friday's match at Austin Peay, senior Alison Mugler became the eighth member of MSU's 1,000 Kill Club and just the sixth Racer to earn membership in both the 1,000 Kill and 1,000 Dig Clubs.
The Maumee, Ohio, native tallied her 1,000th kill during the fourth set to break a 4-4 tie and put MSU ahead for good in the set.
The outside hitter was the first MSU player since Krista Shumard to record 1,000 kills. Shumard earned her membership in both clubs during the 1999 campaign.
Mugler is now eighth on the all-time kills list with 1,020 and needs just four to pass Shumard in the No. 7 position (1,023).
Swinging to Eliminate Cancer
While most volleyball teams in the nation are coming together to help raise awareness and funds to help eliminate breast cancer the MSU volleyball team has decided to help a different cause that affects the team on a more personal level.
This November the Racers will start Swinging to Eliminate Cancer to help raise funds for the National Brain Tumor Society. Kendra Schwepker, the wife of head volleyball coach David Schwepker, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004. The Schwepker's received great support from the local community to help them with medical bills and with everyday chores while Kendra was first getting treatment and now they want to help others going through the same thing.
Snapping Streaks
The Racers 3-0 victory at Jacksonville State Saturday, Oct. 11 not only ended a two-match losing streak, but it also broke a five-match losing streak to the Gamecocks. MSU earned victories in the first two meetings between the two teams, but then lost the next five, dating back to the 2004 campaign.
Five-Set Extravaganzas
MSU has forced five five-set matches so far this season, which is half way to the school record for the most five-set matches in a single season. The Racers competed in 10 deciding-set matches in 1994 and 1996.
This year MSU has forced two of its five-set matches into the deciding set after being down 2-0. That feat has happened a total of 11 times in school history, with the most in a single season being two (1985, 1987, 2008).
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 71 to claim the spot.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 88 aces so far in her career, including 12 so far in 2008. If the senior hits 12 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 68 aces so far in her career. If she were to hit the mark she would be just the fourth MSU player to record 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, and 100 service aces.
After spending two weeks on the road the Murray State volleyball team returns to Racer Arena for three home matches. This weekend the Racers (7-11, 4-4 Ohio Valley Conference) will finish up the first round of OVC play when they take on Southeast Missouri State, Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. The second round will then start Saturday, Oct. 18, when MSU hosts Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m.
About Southeast Missouri State
The Redhawks are 7-8 overall and 5-3 in the OVC after a non-conference, 0-3, loss to Saint Louis Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Like MSU, SEMO has stepped up its play for the conference portion of the season. Overall the Redhawks are trailing their opponents in all statistical categories, but are close in all as well. This includes a .178 (639k-284e-1994ta) hitting percentage for SEMO and a .181 (720k-339e-2102) mark for its opponents.
However, in conference action the Redhawks have close to the same numbers ass their opponents, but have a clear advantage in the hitting percentage column. SEMO has a .222 (322k-120e-909ta) attack percentage in OVC play to its opponents .156 (326k-173e-977ta).
Defense is one of the keys to winning for the Redhawks, as they are ranked 8th in the nation in digs per set (17.33 through Oct. 12). Molly Davis is the leader in the digs column for SEMO, with 240 this season, good for a No. 50 ranking in the nation (4.48/set).
Offensively the Redhawks are led by Claire Keaton, Emily Hughes, and Karleigh DeLong. Keaton has seen more attempts this season overall, but in OVC action she shares the sets with DeLong with around 200 each. Keaton has tallied a team-high 177 kills, while DeLong has garnered 99. Hughes is second on the team in kills with 101, while adding a team-leading 40 blocks.
Against the Redhawks
MSU was victories in both matches against SEMO last year, with both victories being 3-0. Of the returning members of the 2007 squad, sophomore Sara Hayden led the way with 22 kills, a .360 (22k-4e-50ta) hitting percentage, and six blocks.
Fellow sophomore Becca Lamb also had two key performances, recording 21 kills for the Racers. Senior Alison Mugler was also strong for MSU with three of the team's 10 service aces, 18 kills, and 30 digs.
Senior Heather Norris has had several key matchups with the Redhawks, recording a career-high 40 ups Nov. 6, 2006 in Racer Arena.
Emily Hughes and Karleigh DeLong are the top returners for SEMO from a year ago. DeLong tallied 23 kills and 32 digs, with Hughes added 11 kills.
The Series
The Redhawks currently own a 41-13 advantage in the all-time series, but the Racers have been on the winning side of the court in the last two meetings. SEMO also has an advantage when playing in Racer Arena (6-17), but again MSU has earned the last two wins in Murray.
About Eastern Illinois
The Panthers have had a tough season so far in 2008, with a 4-14 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the OVC. EIU recently snapped an 11 match losing streak, in which they fell 0-3 in all the matches, with a 3-2 win over Tennessee State.
Alex Zwettler is the top offensive producer for the Panthers, with 137 kills on 410 attempts. The outside-hitter has also tallied 127 digs, 12 bocks, and seven service aces.
Lauren Sopcic has been a key force at the net for EIU with a team-leading 27 blocks.
The Panthers have struggled with errors this season, hitting only .117 (604k-363e-2053ta) to their opponents .215 (746k-304e-2047ta) mark. EIU has also committed 108 service errors, but tallied only 63 aces on the year.
Against the Panthers
The Racers and the Panthers have meet once already this season, with MSU coming back from Charleston with a 3-0 victory.
Sophomore Sara Hayden led the way for the Racers with 10 kills, while three other players added eight. Sophomore Ashley Nenninger was one of those with eight and added a team-high five blocks.
MSU hit .243 (39k-13e-107ta) on the day while holding the Panthers to a .068 (31k-23e-117ta) hitting percentage.
The Series
Saturday's match will be the 30th in the all-time series that dates back to the 1990 campaign. EIU is currently ahead in the series with an 18-11 mark, but the Racers have won the last five matches. MSU will also be looking to even up the series in Murray, which currently sits at 7-6 in favor of the Panthers.
Digging Up Success
In last Saturday's 3-0 victory at Jacksonville State, senior Heather Norris recorded her 1,995th career dig, moving her into the No. 1 spot on MSU's all-time digs list. The libero broke the 1990 record set by Kim Koehler of 1,994 digs.
Her accomplishment also moved Norris into the No. 4 spot on the OVC standings in the same category.
The new record is noteworthy because Koehler's numbers came when teams played more matches and had more opportunities to increase their numbers because there was no rally scoring.
Applauding Alison
In Friday's match at Austin Peay, senior Alison Mugler became the eighth member of MSU's 1,000 Kill Club and just the sixth Racer to earn membership in both the 1,000 Kill and 1,000 Dig Clubs.
The Maumee, Ohio, native tallied her 1,000th kill during the fourth set to break a 4-4 tie and put MSU ahead for good in the set.
The outside hitter was the first MSU player since Krista Shumard to record 1,000 kills. Shumard earned her membership in both clubs during the 1999 campaign.
Mugler is now eighth on the all-time kills list with 1,020 and needs just four to pass Shumard in the No. 7 position (1,023).
Swinging to Eliminate Cancer
While most volleyball teams in the nation are coming together to help raise awareness and funds to help eliminate breast cancer the MSU volleyball team has decided to help a different cause that affects the team on a more personal level.
This November the Racers will start Swinging to Eliminate Cancer to help raise funds for the National Brain Tumor Society. Kendra Schwepker, the wife of head volleyball coach David Schwepker, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004. The Schwepker's received great support from the local community to help them with medical bills and with everyday chores while Kendra was first getting treatment and now they want to help others going through the same thing.
Snapping Streaks
The Racers 3-0 victory at Jacksonville State Saturday, Oct. 11 not only ended a two-match losing streak, but it also broke a five-match losing streak to the Gamecocks. MSU earned victories in the first two meetings between the two teams, but then lost the next five, dating back to the 2004 campaign.
Five-Set Extravaganzas
MSU has forced five five-set matches so far this season, which is half way to the school record for the most five-set matches in a single season. The Racers competed in 10 deciding-set matches in 1994 and 1996.
This year MSU has forced two of its five-set matches into the deciding set after being down 2-0. That feat has happened a total of 11 times in school history, with the most in a single season being two (1985, 1987, 2008).
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 71 to claim the spot.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 88 aces so far in her career, including 12 so far in 2008. If the senior hits 12 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 68 aces so far in her career. If she were to hit the mark she would be just the fourth MSU player to record 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, and 100 service aces.
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