Murray State University Athletics
Volleyball Set to Open Conference Play at UT Martin
9/15/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
After nine non-conference outings the Murray State volleyball team will start the Ohio Valley Conference portion of its season with a match against UT Martin, Tuesday, Sep. 16 at Skyhawk Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. The match will be the 10th of 11 straight road matches for the Racers (3-6, 0-0 OVC).
About UT Martin
The Skyhawks head into their first home match of 2008 with a 2-10 mark on the season, having lost their last 10 matches. The losing streak started Aug. 30 against soon to be conference member Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
Last weekend UT Martin fell to Lamar (1-3), Virginia Tech (0-3), and Arkansas (0-3) at the Arkansas Invitational.
Taylor Noland is the leader for the Skyhawks on offense, with 114 kills. Noland is also their main attacker, with 356 attempts. The next member of the roster in attempts is Katherine Godina, with 232.
UT Martin is using two setters so far this season, with Emily Steinbeck earning six starts and 209 assists. However Jenna Miller has started the last two matches and has accumulated 169 assists.
Defensively the Skyhawks are led by Breanne Carey with 173 digs and Britany Wilburn with 26 (4-22) total blocks.
As a team, UT Martin is struggling with hitting, averaging only .133 (464k-248e-1622ta) in its first 12 matches. The Skyhawks are also allowing their opponents to garner a .237 (636k-233e-1701ta) hitting percentage.
UT Martin's statistical averages are similar to MSU, with its only advantage coming in the serving column. The Skyhawks are landing 1.3 service aces per set, to the Racers 0.9.
Against the Skyhawks
Senior Alison Mugler and sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden were three of the top four performers last season for MSU in its two matches against UT Martin. Lamb led the way with 36 kills and four blocks, while Hayden added 30 kills. Mugler netted 28 kills and added a team-high 36 digs and four blocks. Junior Cassie Chesney also had five service aces for the Racers.
Of the returning members of the Skyhawk roster, Noland had the best performance against MSU. Noland recorded 20 kills, five blocks and two service aces.
The Series
The match-up on Tuesday will be the 45th in the all-time series. The Racers currently own a 28-16 advantage in the series, including victories in the last four matches.
The last time that MSU traveled to Martin, the Racers went back to Murray with a 3-0 (35-33, 30-27, 31-29) victory.
All-Tournament Honors
For the second time this season senior Alison Mugler was named to an all-tournament team. Mugler earned Crimson Tide All-Tournament honors after recording 35 digs, 18 kills, three blocks, and a .218 (18k-6e-55ta) hitting percentage.
Mugler Moving Up the Lists
Heading into the Crimson Tide Invitational, Mugler needed 22 digs to move up to the No. 6 spot on MSU's all-time digs list. The Maumee, Ohio native tallied nine against South Florida and then added 15 against Samford to exceed the 22 mark.
Mugler's 35 digs on the weekend give her 1,381 digs in her career and moved her past Kristi Hoffman (1,368) in the standings. Jill McCoy is the next Racer on the list with 1,464, 83 more than Mugler.
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.
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 106 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.
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 33 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
The Racers loss to Alabama was the first away loss of the season...MSU is now 1-5 in neutral site matches and 2-1 in away outings...the Racers have just one regular-season non-conference match left on the 2008 schedule.
About UT Martin
The Skyhawks head into their first home match of 2008 with a 2-10 mark on the season, having lost their last 10 matches. The losing streak started Aug. 30 against soon to be conference member Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
Last weekend UT Martin fell to Lamar (1-3), Virginia Tech (0-3), and Arkansas (0-3) at the Arkansas Invitational.
Taylor Noland is the leader for the Skyhawks on offense, with 114 kills. Noland is also their main attacker, with 356 attempts. The next member of the roster in attempts is Katherine Godina, with 232.
UT Martin is using two setters so far this season, with Emily Steinbeck earning six starts and 209 assists. However Jenna Miller has started the last two matches and has accumulated 169 assists.
Defensively the Skyhawks are led by Breanne Carey with 173 digs and Britany Wilburn with 26 (4-22) total blocks.
As a team, UT Martin is struggling with hitting, averaging only .133 (464k-248e-1622ta) in its first 12 matches. The Skyhawks are also allowing their opponents to garner a .237 (636k-233e-1701ta) hitting percentage.
UT Martin's statistical averages are similar to MSU, with its only advantage coming in the serving column. The Skyhawks are landing 1.3 service aces per set, to the Racers 0.9.
Against the Skyhawks
Senior Alison Mugler and sophomores Becca Lamb and Sara Hayden were three of the top four performers last season for MSU in its two matches against UT Martin. Lamb led the way with 36 kills and four blocks, while Hayden added 30 kills. Mugler netted 28 kills and added a team-high 36 digs and four blocks. Junior Cassie Chesney also had five service aces for the Racers.
Of the returning members of the Skyhawk roster, Noland had the best performance against MSU. Noland recorded 20 kills, five blocks and two service aces.
The Series
The match-up on Tuesday will be the 45th in the all-time series. The Racers currently own a 28-16 advantage in the series, including victories in the last four matches.
The last time that MSU traveled to Martin, the Racers went back to Murray with a 3-0 (35-33, 30-27, 31-29) victory.
All-Tournament Honors
For the second time this season senior Alison Mugler was named to an all-tournament team. Mugler earned Crimson Tide All-Tournament honors after recording 35 digs, 18 kills, three blocks, and a .218 (18k-6e-55ta) hitting percentage.
Mugler Moving Up the Lists
Heading into the Crimson Tide Invitational, Mugler needed 22 digs to move up to the No. 6 spot on MSU's all-time digs list. The Maumee, Ohio native tallied nine against South Florida and then added 15 against Samford to exceed the 22 mark.
Mugler's 35 digs on the weekend give her 1,381 digs in her career and moved her past Kristi Hoffman (1,368) in the standings. Jill McCoy is the next Racer on the list with 1,464, 83 more than Mugler.
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.
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 106 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.
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 33 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
The Racers loss to Alabama was the first away loss of the season...MSU is now 1-5 in neutral site matches and 2-1 in away outings...the Racers have just one regular-season non-conference match left on the 2008 schedule.
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