Friday, October 28
Racer Arena
7:00 PM
Murray State
vs
UT Martin
The Racers will host UT Martin and Eastern Illinois in Racer Arena.
Racers Set to Host UT Martin and Eastern Illinois in Key OVC Matches
10/26/2011 2:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team continues the 2011 season with home matches against UT Martin (Oct. 28/7 p.m.) and Eastern Illinois (Nov. 1/7 p.m.) at Racer Arena. The matches are two of the last six of the regular season for the Racers and two of four that will be played in Racer Arena over the next two weeks.
Match Notes
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks are 15-9 overall and 10-4 in the OVC after winning three of their last five matches. Their 10-4 mark in the league is good for second place.
Despite having a winning record, UTM is close in all the statistical categories and leads in all except blocks. The Skyhawks are hitting at a .187 pace but allowing their opponents to hit at just a .167 mark. UTM is No. 3 in the nation in digs per set (18.88) and allow 18.4 per set. Blocking is the only category without a lead for the Skyhawks, at 1.9 to 2.1 per set.
UTM is a well rounded team, with four hitters with over 600 attempts and two of those hitting over .200. Ashely Doherty leads the team in kills and hitting percentage, with a .258 (272k-85e-724ta) mark. She also adds 63 (11-52) blocks. Brittany Wilburn is the next most reliable hitter, with a .203 (209k-81e-631ta) hitting pace and she adds a team-high 90 (11-79) blocks. Kasey Elswick is the team's defensive leader, with the second-best digs per set mark in the NCAA (6.8). Setter Jenna Miller is a threat from all areas of the court, with a .343 (66k-7e-172ta) hitting percentage, 933 assists, 214 digs and 24 service aces.
The Series
MSU owns a 34-18 advantage in the all-time series after the loss at UTM earlier this season. The Racers had a five-match winning streak prior to this season's first meeting. MSU is 20-2 against the Skyhawks when playing in Racer Arena.
Scouting Eastern Illinois
The Panthers are currently 8-17 overall and one game behind the Racers in the OVC standings, with a 5-9 mark. EIU has lost is last two matches after they had been on a four-match winning streak. The Panthers will face Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State over the weekend before traveling to Murray.
EIU trails its opponents in all the statistical categories, but is close in all but hitting percentage and blocks. The Panthers are hitting at a .152 pace and allowing their opponents to hit at a .220 mark. Part of the reason for their lower hitting percentage is because they are getting blocked 2.3 times per set and blocking their opponents attempts only 1.6 times per set.
The Panthers have four hitters, with three seeing more attempts this season. Emily Franklin is the player who has recorded more kills (271) and attempts (840), but she is hitting at a .100 (271k-187e-840ta) pace. She also adds 26 service aces and 41 (4-37) blocks. Reynae Hutchinson is the most reliable hitter, with a .212 (244k-107e-647ta) hitting percentage.
The Series
EIU holds a 21-14 advantage in the all-time series after the Racers earned a 3-1 win Sep. 17, 2011 in Charleston, Ill. MSU has now won the last two matches against the Panthers, and has a slight, 9-7, lead in the series when played in Murray, Ky.
Moving Up in the Career Charts
Three of the MSU players are currently on, or just shy of making, career lists in at least one category this season. Senior Mary Cunningham currently has 157 block assists, moving her into eighth on the career block assist charts at MSU. She needs six more to take over seventh (163-Becca Lamb).
Fellow senior Kayleah Sauer is already on the Racers career digs list, currently in second place (2,050). Sauer is 76 from the top spot that belongs to Heather Norris (2,125). The Louisville, Ky., native has averaged 550 digs per season in her first three years. Sauer also earned a spot on a second top-10 list, service aces. She has 103 career service aces, good for the No. 10 spot. She needs 19 to take over ninth from Norris (121).
Junior Lydia Orf is also making a push to join Sauer in the 1,000 Dig Club. The St. Charles, Mo., native has recorded 769 digs and needs 231 to become the 14th member of the club.
Reaching for Milestones
When the MSU volleyball team stepped onto the court this season they were going for several milestones for both the team and head coach David Schwepker. The teams first win (Sep. 16, 2011) marked the 400th for the volleyball program in its 29 year history and the 125th OVC win for head coach David Schwepker. This is during his time as the head coach of the Racers and while at Tennessee State. Schwepker earned his 125th conference win at MSU, with the Racers 3-0 win over Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 15).
MSU will also be aiming to reach two more milestones for their head coach. Schwepker needs one overall wins for his 200th career coaching win and 14 wins to reach his 200th win while at the helm of the Racers.
Mahurin Making a Mark
Just as she is getting ready to make the switch from volleyball to basketball, freshman Beth Mahurin has turned up her performance on the volleyball court. In the last four matches, the Rockville, Ind., native has tallied career bests in kills twice, including 13 against SEMO. She also has career-highs of five digs (SEMO) and 28 attempts (JSU). She has tallied 10+ kills in three of the last four matches and is hitting at a .250 (41k-15e-104ta) pace, while adding 11 digs and four blocks.
Up Next
MSU will conclude its regular-season road matches with stops in Richmond, Ky., and Morehead, Ky., to face Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 4) and Morehead State (Nov. 5). The final two regular-season matches will be in Racer Arena against Tennessee State (Nov. 11) and Austin Peay (Nov. 12).
Match Notes
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks are 15-9 overall and 10-4 in the OVC after winning three of their last five matches. Their 10-4 mark in the league is good for second place.
Despite having a winning record, UTM is close in all the statistical categories and leads in all except blocks. The Skyhawks are hitting at a .187 pace but allowing their opponents to hit at just a .167 mark. UTM is No. 3 in the nation in digs per set (18.88) and allow 18.4 per set. Blocking is the only category without a lead for the Skyhawks, at 1.9 to 2.1 per set.
UTM is a well rounded team, with four hitters with over 600 attempts and two of those hitting over .200. Ashely Doherty leads the team in kills and hitting percentage, with a .258 (272k-85e-724ta) mark. She also adds 63 (11-52) blocks. Brittany Wilburn is the next most reliable hitter, with a .203 (209k-81e-631ta) hitting pace and she adds a team-high 90 (11-79) blocks. Kasey Elswick is the team's defensive leader, with the second-best digs per set mark in the NCAA (6.8). Setter Jenna Miller is a threat from all areas of the court, with a .343 (66k-7e-172ta) hitting percentage, 933 assists, 214 digs and 24 service aces.
The Series
MSU owns a 34-18 advantage in the all-time series after the loss at UTM earlier this season. The Racers had a five-match winning streak prior to this season's first meeting. MSU is 20-2 against the Skyhawks when playing in Racer Arena.
Scouting Eastern Illinois
The Panthers are currently 8-17 overall and one game behind the Racers in the OVC standings, with a 5-9 mark. EIU has lost is last two matches after they had been on a four-match winning streak. The Panthers will face Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State over the weekend before traveling to Murray.
EIU trails its opponents in all the statistical categories, but is close in all but hitting percentage and blocks. The Panthers are hitting at a .152 pace and allowing their opponents to hit at a .220 mark. Part of the reason for their lower hitting percentage is because they are getting blocked 2.3 times per set and blocking their opponents attempts only 1.6 times per set.
The Panthers have four hitters, with three seeing more attempts this season. Emily Franklin is the player who has recorded more kills (271) and attempts (840), but she is hitting at a .100 (271k-187e-840ta) pace. She also adds 26 service aces and 41 (4-37) blocks. Reynae Hutchinson is the most reliable hitter, with a .212 (244k-107e-647ta) hitting percentage.
The Series
EIU holds a 21-14 advantage in the all-time series after the Racers earned a 3-1 win Sep. 17, 2011 in Charleston, Ill. MSU has now won the last two matches against the Panthers, and has a slight, 9-7, lead in the series when played in Murray, Ky.
Moving Up in the Career Charts
Three of the MSU players are currently on, or just shy of making, career lists in at least one category this season. Senior Mary Cunningham currently has 157 block assists, moving her into eighth on the career block assist charts at MSU. She needs six more to take over seventh (163-Becca Lamb).
Fellow senior Kayleah Sauer is already on the Racers career digs list, currently in second place (2,050). Sauer is 76 from the top spot that belongs to Heather Norris (2,125). The Louisville, Ky., native has averaged 550 digs per season in her first three years. Sauer also earned a spot on a second top-10 list, service aces. She has 103 career service aces, good for the No. 10 spot. She needs 19 to take over ninth from Norris (121).
Junior Lydia Orf is also making a push to join Sauer in the 1,000 Dig Club. The St. Charles, Mo., native has recorded 769 digs and needs 231 to become the 14th member of the club.
Reaching for Milestones
When the MSU volleyball team stepped onto the court this season they were going for several milestones for both the team and head coach David Schwepker. The teams first win (Sep. 16, 2011) marked the 400th for the volleyball program in its 29 year history and the 125th OVC win for head coach David Schwepker. This is during his time as the head coach of the Racers and while at Tennessee State. Schwepker earned his 125th conference win at MSU, with the Racers 3-0 win over Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 15).
MSU will also be aiming to reach two more milestones for their head coach. Schwepker needs one overall wins for his 200th career coaching win and 14 wins to reach his 200th win while at the helm of the Racers.
Mahurin Making a Mark
Just as she is getting ready to make the switch from volleyball to basketball, freshman Beth Mahurin has turned up her performance on the volleyball court. In the last four matches, the Rockville, Ind., native has tallied career bests in kills twice, including 13 against SEMO. She also has career-highs of five digs (SEMO) and 28 attempts (JSU). She has tallied 10+ kills in three of the last four matches and is hitting at a .250 (41k-15e-104ta) pace, while adding 11 digs and four blocks.
Up Next
MSU will conclude its regular-season road matches with stops in Richmond, Ky., and Morehead, Ky., to face Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 4) and Morehead State (Nov. 5). The final two regular-season matches will be in Racer Arena against Tennessee State (Nov. 11) and Austin Peay (Nov. 12).
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