Volleyball Travels to Radford For Three Matches

Friday, August 31

Radford, Va.

3:00 p.m.

Murray State

The Citadel

Photo by: Kent Zickfield

8/30/2012 1:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

After an 0-3 outing at the Hyatt Place Fort Wayne/IPFW Invitational to begin the season, the Murray State volleyball team looks to move into the win column this weekend in Virginia.

The Racers will make the long trek to Radford, Va., for three games in the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational. Murray State will open play on Friday afternoon against The Citadel at 3:30 p.m., followed by a doubleheader with St. Francis (Pa.) and host Radford on Saturday at 2 p.m., and 6 p.m., respectively.

Despite the three losses lasts week, there were plenty of positives to take away from the Racer's trip to Fort Wayne. The biggest being the play of the newcomers to the team.

Freshman Emily Schmahl (Wedgewood, Ky.) was among the newcomers putting up impressive number last weekend. In her first three collegiate games, Schmahl tallied 31 kills for 3.44 per set and turned in a team-high attack percentage of .244. For her play at the invitational, she was named to not only the all-tournament team, but also as the Murray State Pepsi Athlete of the Week.

Other players with impressive opening weekends as Racers were freshman Jodie Klein (Louisville, Ky.) and junior transfer Michelle Lazorchak (Marion, Ill.). Klein, along with junior Katlyn Hudson (Columbus, Ind.), led MSU last weekend with 30, while Lazorchak had six solo blocks and eight block assists for 16 total.

Scouting The Opponents:

The Citadel (0-3): The Bulldogs opened play last weekend at the UNLV Invitational in Las Vegas where they dropped matches to Northern Arizona, UNLV and CSU Bakersfield. Leading the way for Citadel was senior outside hitter Rachel Farrell (Niceville, Fla.). Farrell turned in a well-rounded performance with 17 kills, 17 digs, six blocks, and two aces.

St. Francis (Pa.) (1-2): The Red Flash started its 2012 campaign last week by going 1-2 at West Virginia's Mountaineer Invitational. St. Francis opened its year with a win over host West Virginia, which the Racers will play on Sep. 16, but dropped its final two matches in the tournament to Loyola (Md.) and Central Connecticut State. Senior Lauren Wingard (York, Pa.) earned all-tournament honors for her play, finishing with 24 kills, eight aces, 13 digs, and five blocks.

Radford (2-2): The Highlanders started the season at 2-0, with wins over St. Francis (N.Y.) and NJIT, but fell in the title game of the St. Francis Terrier Invitational to Maryland-Eastern Shore and in a mid-week contest to Hampton. Sophomore Rachel Wiechecki played a key role in her team's quick start by posting two double-doubles in her first four games. Thus far in the season, she leads the Highlanders in both kills and digs with 42 and 52, respectively.

Against The Field: This weekend's games will mark the first meeting between Murray State and all three of its opponents in the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitation.

By The Numbers: Statistically speaking, the Racers will enter this weekend's tournament in a very good position. So far this year, MSU is averaging 2.1 blocks per set, the highest average of any team in the tournament. They also own the second-highest team attack percentage (.118) and the second-highest assist per set average (10.2). Only Radford is higher in both categories at .188 and 11.67, respectively.

What's Next: The Racers will take next weekend off, but not before travelling to Evansville on Tuesday for a key mid-week regional match with the Purple Aces. Opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.