MSU Faces Washington and Buffalo in Seattle

Dates: Sept. 4 and 5
Match Times: 4^th – 9 p.m.; 5^th – 4 p.m.
Opponents: No. 7 Washington and Buffalo
Site (Venue): Seattle, Wash. (Alaska Airlines Arena)
Host: Washington
Watch Live: GoRacers.com
Live Stats: Washington | Buffalo
MSU Record (Streak): 3-0 (W3)
MSU vs. The Field: 0-0
All-Time Series vs. Washington (Streak): First-ever meeting
All-Time Series vs. Buffalo (Streak): First-ever meeting
MSU Next Matches: Sept. 11-12 – at Holiday Inn Classic (hosted by Indiana State)
MSU Next Home Match: Oct. 7 vs. Austin Peay

This Week
Murray State travels to the upper northwest to face No. 7 Washington and Buffalo in Seattle, Wash.

Last Week
The Racers started the season with a bang, sweeping all three matches at the Western Carolina Catamount Volleyball Classic last weekend. MSU defeated Fresno State, Western Carolina and Georgia State on its way to the classic crown.

MVP!-MVP!-MVP
Kristen Besselsen was named the Most Valuable Player at the Catamount Classic, leading the Racers with 34 kills and a .413 hitting percentage. Besselsen had a pair of matches where she recorded 13 kills in each and also had a .600 attack percentage in MSU's win over Western Carolina. Besselsen also added five service aces, four blocks and 24 digs in the three sweeps. For her efforts, Besselsen was also named the ADIDAS OVC Offensive Player of the Week.

All-Tourney Team
Joining Besselsen on the all-tournament team at WCU were Sam Bedard and Taylor Olden. Bedard averaged 11.67 assists per set and also set-up a Racer offense that hit .276 in their three victories. Bedard had 39 assists in MSU's season-opening win over Fresno State and in the win over host-Western Carolina - Bedard recorded her first double-double of the season with 32 assists and 15 digs. Bedard was named the OVC's Setter of the Week earlier this week for her performance at WCU. Olden was second on the squad in the three matches with 29 kills and hit .282.

Scouting Washington
The seventh-ranked Huskies enter the matchup with a 3-0 mark after victories last weekend at the Northwest Challenge over Gonzaga, Boise State and Portland State. Washington is led by All-American middle blocker Lianna Sybeldon and 2014 Pac-12 Libero of the Year Cassie Strickland. Courtney Schwan leads the team with 32 kills in the young season and is hitting .444. Sybeldon leads the team with a .500 hitting percentage, as a team, the Huskies are hitting .363 in 2015. Setter Katy Beals leads the squad with 62 assists this season, while Strickland is averaging 4.38 digs per set from her libero spot. Melanie Wade leads the team with 16 total blocks on the season. UW is led by first-year head coach Keegan Cook.

Scouting Buffalo
Buffalo enters the weekend with an 0-3 record after dropping matches last weekend to Penn State, Villanova and Stony Brook at the Penn State Classic. The Bulls are led by 2014 MAC All-Freshman Team member Cassie Shado. Shado leads the team with 20 kills, a .240 hitting percentage and 16 total blocks. Setter Marissa Prinzbach leads the Bulls with 74 total assists and Niki Bozinoski leads the squad with 32 digs in 2015. Head Coach Blair Brown Lipsitz is in her first season with Buffalo.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bedard

Kristen Besselsen

Taylor Olden

Murray State University Athletics