Murray State University Athletics
Racers Hit Road For Final Time During Regular Season
11/5/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Matches
The Murray State volleyball team will be heading out for the final regular-season road matches of the 2008 campaign when the team travels to Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. The Racers (12-12, 9-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will first battle with the Eagles, Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and then continue on to face the Colonels at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8
About Morehead State
After starting out the season strong, the Eagles have been struggling some in the last few weeks. Morehead State has lost four of its last six matches, which dropped the Eagles to 20-6 overall and 11-3 in the OVC. Their 11-3 mark in the OVC also switched them in the standings with Tennessee Tech, who is now the conference leader.
Ashley Doscher and Kaitlin Craven are the top choices for setters Katelyn Barbour and Kristie Brangers. Craven leads the team with 906 attack attempts, with Doscher close behind her with 842. The totals account for 49 percent of the teams attempts this season. The duo also account for 47 percent of the teams kills, but have two of the lowest hitting percentages on the team.
As a team the Eagles are hitting .213 (1274k-519e-3550ta), with Doscher earning a .190 (309k-149e-842ta) mark and Craven hitting at a .194 (290k-114e-906ta) clip.
Morehead State is running a two setter system this season, with Barbour earning the majority of the assists, 634 to Brangers 409.
Emma Keough and Erin Peak are key factors for the Eagles at the net, with each tallying around 90 blocks on the season. Keough has 90 (10 solos, 80 assists) and Peak has garnered 84 (15 solos, 69 assists).
Morehead State has advantages over its opponents in most statistical categories, except blocks where they are even a 2.1 blocks/set.
The Eagles are also ranked in the top-100 in the national statistics in four categories. Their largest ranking is a No. 10 spot in digs/set (17.47), with the Racers earning the No. 9 spot (17.51). They are also No. 28 in kills (13.85), No. 33 in assists (12.74), and No. 80 in service aces (1.46).
Kristina Schoo is the lone individual in the top-100 with a No. 27 ranking in digs/set (4.98).
Against the Eagles
In the first meeting of the season with MSU, Morehead State earned a 3-1 victory in Racer Arena. Sophomore Sara Hayden led the charge for the Racers with 15 kills, .419 (15k-2e-31ta) attack percentage, and four blocks. Freshman Kayleah Sauer was the top defensive producer for MSU with 18 digs.
For the Eagles, Doscher was one of four players with 10 or more kills in the match, and led the Eagles with 17 kills and five blocks. Keough also added 12 kills and five blocks for Morehead State.
The Racers matched the Eagles with a season-high 11 total blocks, but trailed in kills (68-55), hitting percentage (.230-.203), and digs (86-78).
The Series
Morehead State currently owns a 30-24 advantage in the all-time series, including a 7-16 mark in Morehead. The Eagles have been the victors in the last two meetings.
About Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels snapped a three-match losing streak with a 3-2 win over SIU Edwardsville, Tuesday, Nov. 4. The win improved EKU's record to 6-19 overall and 4-10 in the OVC. The Colonels will have one more chance to improve its record before the Racers come to town. EKU hosts UT Martin, Friday at 6 p.m.
Lindsey Loescher is the backbone of the Colonels offense, as she accounts for 1,049 of the teams 3,014 attack attempts and 329 of 901 kills this season. Amanda Wilson and Bridget Mustard are the next on the attack list wtih around 500 attempts each. Loescher also has one of the best hitting percentages on the team with a .173, while the team is hitting only .133 on the season.
Abby O'Connor is the defensive spark for EKU, with 421 digs so far this campaign. Her 4.80 digs/set rank her third in the OVC and 46th in the national standings. Loescher is also ranked nationally, with a No. 66 spot on the kills/set list (3.66).
Against the Colonels
MSU earned a victory in the first meeting between the two teams this season in Murray. Sophomore Sara Hayden had an impressive .632 (13k-1e-19ta) attack percentage and led the team with 13 kills. Senior Alison Mugler was next on the list with 11 kills.
Defensively rookie Kayleah Sauer tallied 20 digs, while sophomore Ashley Nenninger garnered a career-best eight blocks (1-7).
Lindsey Loescher had a good night for the Colonels with 25 kills. Loescher was the only EKU player in double-digits for kills, with the next player on the team recording nine.
The Series
With the victory Sep. 26 the Racers tied the all-time series with EKU at 26 matches a piece. MSU has also been victorious in the last three matches, and four of the last five outings. The series is also tied when playing at McBrayer Arena at 11 wins each.
Guo and Sauer Garner Weekly Honors
Freshmen Kayleah Sauer and David Schwepker joined both members of the senior class by recording a career milestone, Saturday, Nov. 1 against Austin Peay. Schwepker recorded his 100th OVC victory with the 3-2 win over the Lady Govs. Earlier this year Schwepker recorded his 150th career victory (Sep. 23 at Eastern Illinois).
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.
November 14-15 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.
Five-Set Extravaganzas
MSU has forced seven five-set matches so far this season, which is over 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 been victorious in two of its five-set matches after forcing the deciding set when they were 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 has been moving up the Racer all-time digs and kills list all season.
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 sixth on the all-time kills list with 1,051 and needs 71 to pass Stephanie Diebold (1,122) in the No. 5 position.
The Maumee, Ohio, native has also been jumping up on the all-time digs list and is now in the No. 5 spot. Mugler will now be aiming for Jill Doty's No. 4 position (1,599) and will need 14 to claim the spot.
Digging Up Success
In the Oct. 11 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. Norris now has 2,061 digs and needs 22 more to pass Morehead State's Cherelle Lampkins mark of 2,082 set in 2003.
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.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 95 aces so far in her career, including 19 so far in 2008. If the senior hits five 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 69 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.
The Murray State volleyball team will be heading out for the final regular-season road matches of the 2008 campaign when the team travels to Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. The Racers (12-12, 9-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will first battle with the Eagles, Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and then continue on to face the Colonels at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8
About Morehead State
After starting out the season strong, the Eagles have been struggling some in the last few weeks. Morehead State has lost four of its last six matches, which dropped the Eagles to 20-6 overall and 11-3 in the OVC. Their 11-3 mark in the OVC also switched them in the standings with Tennessee Tech, who is now the conference leader.
Ashley Doscher and Kaitlin Craven are the top choices for setters Katelyn Barbour and Kristie Brangers. Craven leads the team with 906 attack attempts, with Doscher close behind her with 842. The totals account for 49 percent of the teams attempts this season. The duo also account for 47 percent of the teams kills, but have two of the lowest hitting percentages on the team.
As a team the Eagles are hitting .213 (1274k-519e-3550ta), with Doscher earning a .190 (309k-149e-842ta) mark and Craven hitting at a .194 (290k-114e-906ta) clip.
Morehead State is running a two setter system this season, with Barbour earning the majority of the assists, 634 to Brangers 409.
Emma Keough and Erin Peak are key factors for the Eagles at the net, with each tallying around 90 blocks on the season. Keough has 90 (10 solos, 80 assists) and Peak has garnered 84 (15 solos, 69 assists).
Morehead State has advantages over its opponents in most statistical categories, except blocks where they are even a 2.1 blocks/set.
The Eagles are also ranked in the top-100 in the national statistics in four categories. Their largest ranking is a No. 10 spot in digs/set (17.47), with the Racers earning the No. 9 spot (17.51). They are also No. 28 in kills (13.85), No. 33 in assists (12.74), and No. 80 in service aces (1.46).
Kristina Schoo is the lone individual in the top-100 with a No. 27 ranking in digs/set (4.98).
Against the Eagles
In the first meeting of the season with MSU, Morehead State earned a 3-1 victory in Racer Arena. Sophomore Sara Hayden led the charge for the Racers with 15 kills, .419 (15k-2e-31ta) attack percentage, and four blocks. Freshman Kayleah Sauer was the top defensive producer for MSU with 18 digs.
For the Eagles, Doscher was one of four players with 10 or more kills in the match, and led the Eagles with 17 kills and five blocks. Keough also added 12 kills and five blocks for Morehead State.
The Racers matched the Eagles with a season-high 11 total blocks, but trailed in kills (68-55), hitting percentage (.230-.203), and digs (86-78).
The Series
Morehead State currently owns a 30-24 advantage in the all-time series, including a 7-16 mark in Morehead. The Eagles have been the victors in the last two meetings.
About Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels snapped a three-match losing streak with a 3-2 win over SIU Edwardsville, Tuesday, Nov. 4. The win improved EKU's record to 6-19 overall and 4-10 in the OVC. The Colonels will have one more chance to improve its record before the Racers come to town. EKU hosts UT Martin, Friday at 6 p.m.
Lindsey Loescher is the backbone of the Colonels offense, as she accounts for 1,049 of the teams 3,014 attack attempts and 329 of 901 kills this season. Amanda Wilson and Bridget Mustard are the next on the attack list wtih around 500 attempts each. Loescher also has one of the best hitting percentages on the team with a .173, while the team is hitting only .133 on the season.
Abby O'Connor is the defensive spark for EKU, with 421 digs so far this campaign. Her 4.80 digs/set rank her third in the OVC and 46th in the national standings. Loescher is also ranked nationally, with a No. 66 spot on the kills/set list (3.66).
Against the Colonels
MSU earned a victory in the first meeting between the two teams this season in Murray. Sophomore Sara Hayden had an impressive .632 (13k-1e-19ta) attack percentage and led the team with 13 kills. Senior Alison Mugler was next on the list with 11 kills.
Defensively rookie Kayleah Sauer tallied 20 digs, while sophomore Ashley Nenninger garnered a career-best eight blocks (1-7).
Lindsey Loescher had a good night for the Colonels with 25 kills. Loescher was the only EKU player in double-digits for kills, with the next player on the team recording nine.
The Series
With the victory Sep. 26 the Racers tied the all-time series with EKU at 26 matches a piece. MSU has also been victorious in the last three matches, and four of the last five outings. The series is also tied when playing at McBrayer Arena at 11 wins each.
Guo and Sauer Garner Weekly Honors
Freshmen Kayleah Sauer and David Schwepker joined both members of the senior class by recording a career milestone, Saturday, Nov. 1 against Austin Peay. Schwepker recorded his 100th OVC victory with the 3-2 win over the Lady Govs. Earlier this year Schwepker recorded his 150th career victory (Sep. 23 at Eastern Illinois).
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.
November 14-15 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.
Five-Set Extravaganzas
MSU has forced seven five-set matches so far this season, which is over 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 been victorious in two of its five-set matches after forcing the deciding set when they were 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 has been moving up the Racer all-time digs and kills list all season.
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 sixth on the all-time kills list with 1,051 and needs 71 to pass Stephanie Diebold (1,122) in the No. 5 position.
The Maumee, Ohio, native has also been jumping up on the all-time digs list and is now in the No. 5 spot. Mugler will now be aiming for Jill Doty's No. 4 position (1,599) and will need 14 to claim the spot.
Digging Up Success
In the Oct. 11 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. Norris now has 2,061 digs and needs 22 more to pass Morehead State's Cherelle Lampkins mark of 2,082 set in 2003.
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.
Serving Up Success
Heather Norris is also approaching another milestone at MSU, her 100th service ace. The libero has recorded 95 aces so far in her career, including 19 so far in 2008. If the senior hits five 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 69 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.
Indiana State VS Murray State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Friday, May 22
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
