Murray State University Athletics
Racers head to Alabama for Crimson Tide Invitational
9/11/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team will be participating in its final regular-season tournament this weekend when it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take part in the Crimson Tide Invitational. The Racers will face South Florida, Sep. 12 at 11 a.m., former conference foe Samford, Sep. 12 at 4:30 p.m., and host Alabama, Sep. 13 at 1 p.m.
About South Florida
The Bulls are 4-3 after dropping three matches last weekend at the Portland Nike Invitational. South Florida fell to strong competition from Arizona State, No. 19 Kansas State, and Portland.
Marcela Gurgel is the key offensive weapon for the Bulls. Gurgel has recorded 105 kills and is set the majority of the time, with 239 attempts. The next USF players in the attempts column are Nakia Williams and Cynthia Danthon (115). Gurgel is hitting .322 (105k-28e-239ta) and is also the team's dig leader with 51.
The Bulls are utilizing two setters this season. Brittan Castelamore has tallied 117 assists, while Mariana Thon has 155. Thon is also second on the team in digs (45).
As a team USF is strong in hitting percentage and serving. The Bulls are averaging .289 (332k-113e-758ta) attacking and 1.9 service aces per set.
Against the Bulls
This will be the first meeting between the Racers and USF in school history. So far this season MSU is 1-2 against teams it plays for the first time.
About Samford
After being in the Ohio Valley Conference for five seasons, the Bulldogs made the switch to the Southern Conference for the 2008 campaign. Samford is currently 6-1 overall and on a five match winning streak. The streak includes a 4-0 mark last weekend at the Kangaroo Klassic hosted by UMKC. The Bulldogs earned victories over the host Kangaroos, Arkansas State, Morgan State, and Florida Atlantic.
Samford has a well balanced attack, with four players with over 45 kills. Ashley Adams in the team's offense leader with 60 kills and a .358 (60k-12e-134ta) hitting percentage. Hillary Fountain sets the offense for the Bulldogs, recording 252 assists and 11 service aces this season. Courtney Gay is the leader in the digs column with 74.
Overall Samford is a strong team, hitting .304 (298k-94e-670ta) and averaging 13 kills and 2.6 blocks per set.
Blocking is a key for the Bulldogs, with three players with 20+ blocks on the year. Rachel Gadberry has netted the most so far this season, with 29 (7-22).
Against the Bulldogs
MSU and Samford have met on six previous occasions, with both teams earning three wins. However, the Bulldogs have been victorious in the last two outings, including a 3-2 win Oct. 20, 2007.
Of the returning players from the 2007 squad, senior Alison Mugler led the team with 30 kills, 37 digs, six blocks, and two service aces in two matches. Sophomore Becca Lamb was next on the list with 21 kills, while fellow sophomore Sara Hayden added 20.
About Alabama
The Crimson Tide are 4-2 overall after finishing the University of Miami Tournament with a 2-1 record. Alabama earned victories over South Dakota State and Virginia Commonwealth before falling to host Miami.
Brooks Webster is the Crimson Tide's leading offensive threat. Webster has attempted 218 attacks and connected on 80 of them. Alyssa Meuth and Lindsey Buteyn are next on the attack list with 118 each. Calli Johnson is a defensive threat for Alabama, as she has tallied 23 (5-18) total blocks so far this season.
The Crimson Tide have a strong hitting, serving, and blocking game. Alabama is hitting .260 (281k-91e-730ta) and averaging 2.0 service aces and 2.3 blocks per set.
Against the Crimson Tide
The Racers and Alabama have met on one previous occasion, with MSU earning a 3-0 (15-13, 16-14, 15-7) win Aug. 29, 1997. The match was the first of the season for the Racers and their first match of the Air Force Invitational where they opened the season with a 3-0 mark.
All-Tournament Honors
Freshman Kayleah Sauer was named to the Belmont All-Tournament Team after recording 37 digs, five assists, and two service aces in the three-match event. The Louisville, Ky., native was also honored as the MSU Pepsi Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance in the tournament.
Preseason Expectations
After finishing fifth in the OVC standings in 2007, Murray State was picked to finish fourth in the 2008 OVC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the leagues head coaches and sports information directors.
Senior Heather Norris was the lone Racer player to be named to the preseason teams, earning a spot on the first team.
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.
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 144 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.
Fellow senior Alison Mugler is also on the all-time digs list at Murray State, in the 7th spot. Mugler has tallied 1,346 digs, and was the 11th member of the 1,000 Dig Club. The Maumee, Ohio, native is now just 22 digs away from moving up to the No. 6 position.
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 51 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 949.
Quick Sets
Head Coach David Schwepker recorded his 150 career victory against Belmont.
About South Florida
The Bulls are 4-3 after dropping three matches last weekend at the Portland Nike Invitational. South Florida fell to strong competition from Arizona State, No. 19 Kansas State, and Portland.
Marcela Gurgel is the key offensive weapon for the Bulls. Gurgel has recorded 105 kills and is set the majority of the time, with 239 attempts. The next USF players in the attempts column are Nakia Williams and Cynthia Danthon (115). Gurgel is hitting .322 (105k-28e-239ta) and is also the team's dig leader with 51.
The Bulls are utilizing two setters this season. Brittan Castelamore has tallied 117 assists, while Mariana Thon has 155. Thon is also second on the team in digs (45).
As a team USF is strong in hitting percentage and serving. The Bulls are averaging .289 (332k-113e-758ta) attacking and 1.9 service aces per set.
Against the Bulls
This will be the first meeting between the Racers and USF in school history. So far this season MSU is 1-2 against teams it plays for the first time.
About Samford
After being in the Ohio Valley Conference for five seasons, the Bulldogs made the switch to the Southern Conference for the 2008 campaign. Samford is currently 6-1 overall and on a five match winning streak. The streak includes a 4-0 mark last weekend at the Kangaroo Klassic hosted by UMKC. The Bulldogs earned victories over the host Kangaroos, Arkansas State, Morgan State, and Florida Atlantic.
Samford has a well balanced attack, with four players with over 45 kills. Ashley Adams in the team's offense leader with 60 kills and a .358 (60k-12e-134ta) hitting percentage. Hillary Fountain sets the offense for the Bulldogs, recording 252 assists and 11 service aces this season. Courtney Gay is the leader in the digs column with 74.
Overall Samford is a strong team, hitting .304 (298k-94e-670ta) and averaging 13 kills and 2.6 blocks per set.
Blocking is a key for the Bulldogs, with three players with 20+ blocks on the year. Rachel Gadberry has netted the most so far this season, with 29 (7-22).
Against the Bulldogs
MSU and Samford have met on six previous occasions, with both teams earning three wins. However, the Bulldogs have been victorious in the last two outings, including a 3-2 win Oct. 20, 2007.
Of the returning players from the 2007 squad, senior Alison Mugler led the team with 30 kills, 37 digs, six blocks, and two service aces in two matches. Sophomore Becca Lamb was next on the list with 21 kills, while fellow sophomore Sara Hayden added 20.
About Alabama
The Crimson Tide are 4-2 overall after finishing the University of Miami Tournament with a 2-1 record. Alabama earned victories over South Dakota State and Virginia Commonwealth before falling to host Miami.
Brooks Webster is the Crimson Tide's leading offensive threat. Webster has attempted 218 attacks and connected on 80 of them. Alyssa Meuth and Lindsey Buteyn are next on the attack list with 118 each. Calli Johnson is a defensive threat for Alabama, as she has tallied 23 (5-18) total blocks so far this season.
The Crimson Tide have a strong hitting, serving, and blocking game. Alabama is hitting .260 (281k-91e-730ta) and averaging 2.0 service aces and 2.3 blocks per set.
Against the Crimson Tide
The Racers and Alabama have met on one previous occasion, with MSU earning a 3-0 (15-13, 16-14, 15-7) win Aug. 29, 1997. The match was the first of the season for the Racers and their first match of the Air Force Invitational where they opened the season with a 3-0 mark.
All-Tournament Honors
Freshman Kayleah Sauer was named to the Belmont All-Tournament Team after recording 37 digs, five assists, and two service aces in the three-match event. The Louisville, Ky., native was also honored as the MSU Pepsi Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance in the tournament.
Preseason Expectations
After finishing fifth in the OVC standings in 2007, Murray State was picked to finish fourth in the 2008 OVC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the leagues head coaches and sports information directors.
Senior Heather Norris was the lone Racer player to be named to the preseason teams, earning a spot on the first team.
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.
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 144 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.
Fellow senior Alison Mugler is also on the all-time digs list at Murray State, in the 7th spot. Mugler has tallied 1,346 digs, and was the 11th member of the 1,000 Dig Club. The Maumee, Ohio, native is now just 22 digs away from moving up to the No. 6 position.
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 51 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 949.
Quick Sets
Head Coach David Schwepker recorded his 150 career victory against Belmont.
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