Murray State University Athletics
Friday, August 24
Fort Wayne, Ind.
6:00 p.m.
Murray State
at
IPFW
Photo by: IPFW Athletic Media Relations
Volleyball To Open Season at Hyatt Place Fort Wayne/IPFW Invitational
8/23/2012 3:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURRAY, Ky. – The Murray State volleyball team will kick-off its 2012 campaign on Friday and Saturday at the Hyatt Place Fort Wayne/IPFW Invitational in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Racers will open play in the tournament on Friday evening with the host, IPFW, followed by matches on Saturday with Kent State and Cleveland State.
Murray State returns eight players from last year's squad, including three starters; seniors Lia Havili and Wendi Zickfield and sophomore Beth Mahurin. Leading the squad on the floor this season will be senior captain Lydia Orf, who also saw considerable minutes last season.
Havili notched 15 aces and led the team in assists last season with 1,007, while Zickfield averaged 2.33 kills per set, 2.58 digs per set and 0.50 blocks per set. For Mahurin, her freshman campaign yielded 2.09 kills per set and 0.46 blocks per set, while Orf averaged 2.45 digs per set.
The eight returners will join with six freshmen and a junior college transfer to form the 2012 edition of the Racers. Among the seven newcomers is Michelle Lacorchak, a transfer from John A. Logan College in Illinois. While at Logan, Lazorchak was named as the 2010 Great Rivers Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and the 2011 Player of the Year.
Leading the Racers on the sidelines will once again be David Schwepker, who returns for his 15th season with Murray State. The winningest coach in program history, Schwepker is 188-209 at the helm of the Racers and is 201-284 in 17 years as a head coach.
Scouting The Opponents:
IPFW: The host Mastodons are coming off of an impressive 21-9 campaign that saw their post-season dreams cut short by a opening round loss in the Summit League tournament to Oral Roberts. Among IPFW's four returning starters this season is the 2010 Summit League Setter of the Year, Megan Steenhuysen. Steenhuysen has led the 'Dons in assists in each of the past three seasons and was a second-team All-Summit League choice in 2011.
Kent State: This weekend will mark a new era for the Golden Flashes as Don Gromala will begin his tenure as the team's eighth head coach. Despite a 12-19 finish last season, Gromala will have plenty to work with as all six of last year's starters are set to return. A key component for Kent State this season will be middle blocker Kathy Krupa. Krupa led the team last year in both attack percentage (.304) and total blocks (115).
Cleveland State: The 2011 Horizon League runners-up are looking to have another impressive run this season improve on its 21-8 mark from last season. Helping lead the way for the Vikings will be 2012 Horizon League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kara Koch. Koch was very effective for Cleveland State last season averaging a league-second 4.20 kills per set and a team leading 428 kills.
Against The Field: Murray State will enter this weekend's invitational at 3-3 all-time against in this season's tournament. The Racers are a perfect 2-0 against Kent State, notching a pair of hard-fought 3-2 wins in both 2006 and 2010. After winning the first meeting with Cleveland State in 1999, Murray State lost the last match between the two teams, a 3-0 defeat in 2007. The only team that the Racers will face this weekend that they have never beaten is the host, IPFW. The 'Dons own a pair of 3-0 wins over MSU, coming in 2005 and 2008.
Out Of The Gate: Friday will mark the 30th season opener for the Racers, having posted a 6-22-1 record in annual debuts over the course of the program. In the match against IPFW on Friday, Murray State will be looking for its first season-opening win since 2006, when it topped Idaho State, 3-1, at the North Florida Labor Day Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.
Watching The Racers: Live stats for this weekend's matches can be found on the schedule page as well as links to live videos. The live stats will be free, while video will be available for $4.95 a mtach or $9.95 for the entire tournament.
What's Next: Next weekend Murray State will travel to Radford, Va., for the LaQuinta Highlander Invitational where it will take on The Citadel, St. Francis (Pa.) and host Radford.
The Racers will open play in the tournament on Friday evening with the host, IPFW, followed by matches on Saturday with Kent State and Cleveland State.
Murray State returns eight players from last year's squad, including three starters; seniors Lia Havili and Wendi Zickfield and sophomore Beth Mahurin. Leading the squad on the floor this season will be senior captain Lydia Orf, who also saw considerable minutes last season.
Havili notched 15 aces and led the team in assists last season with 1,007, while Zickfield averaged 2.33 kills per set, 2.58 digs per set and 0.50 blocks per set. For Mahurin, her freshman campaign yielded 2.09 kills per set and 0.46 blocks per set, while Orf averaged 2.45 digs per set.
The eight returners will join with six freshmen and a junior college transfer to form the 2012 edition of the Racers. Among the seven newcomers is Michelle Lacorchak, a transfer from John A. Logan College in Illinois. While at Logan, Lazorchak was named as the 2010 Great Rivers Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and the 2011 Player of the Year.
Leading the Racers on the sidelines will once again be David Schwepker, who returns for his 15th season with Murray State. The winningest coach in program history, Schwepker is 188-209 at the helm of the Racers and is 201-284 in 17 years as a head coach.
Scouting The Opponents:
IPFW: The host Mastodons are coming off of an impressive 21-9 campaign that saw their post-season dreams cut short by a opening round loss in the Summit League tournament to Oral Roberts. Among IPFW's four returning starters this season is the 2010 Summit League Setter of the Year, Megan Steenhuysen. Steenhuysen has led the 'Dons in assists in each of the past three seasons and was a second-team All-Summit League choice in 2011.
Kent State: This weekend will mark a new era for the Golden Flashes as Don Gromala will begin his tenure as the team's eighth head coach. Despite a 12-19 finish last season, Gromala will have plenty to work with as all six of last year's starters are set to return. A key component for Kent State this season will be middle blocker Kathy Krupa. Krupa led the team last year in both attack percentage (.304) and total blocks (115).
Cleveland State: The 2011 Horizon League runners-up are looking to have another impressive run this season improve on its 21-8 mark from last season. Helping lead the way for the Vikings will be 2012 Horizon League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Kara Koch. Koch was very effective for Cleveland State last season averaging a league-second 4.20 kills per set and a team leading 428 kills.
Against The Field: Murray State will enter this weekend's invitational at 3-3 all-time against in this season's tournament. The Racers are a perfect 2-0 against Kent State, notching a pair of hard-fought 3-2 wins in both 2006 and 2010. After winning the first meeting with Cleveland State in 1999, Murray State lost the last match between the two teams, a 3-0 defeat in 2007. The only team that the Racers will face this weekend that they have never beaten is the host, IPFW. The 'Dons own a pair of 3-0 wins over MSU, coming in 2005 and 2008.
Out Of The Gate: Friday will mark the 30th season opener for the Racers, having posted a 6-22-1 record in annual debuts over the course of the program. In the match against IPFW on Friday, Murray State will be looking for its first season-opening win since 2006, when it topped Idaho State, 3-1, at the North Florida Labor Day Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.
Watching The Racers: Live stats for this weekend's matches can be found on the schedule page as well as links to live videos. The live stats will be free, while video will be available for $4.95 a mtach or $9.95 for the entire tournament.
What's Next: Next weekend Murray State will travel to Radford, Va., for the LaQuinta Highlander Invitational where it will take on The Citadel, St. Francis (Pa.) and host Radford.
Murray State University VS Illinois State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Thursday, May 21
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
