Murray State University Athletics
Friday, September 21
Racer Arena
7:00 p.m.
Murray State
vs
Tennessee Tech
Photo by: Kent Zickfield
Volleyball Returns to Racer Arena For OVC Openers
9/20/2012 5:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
After a month and a half on the road, the Murray State volleyball team will officially open its home slate this weekend with a pair of matches at Racer Arena. The matches on Friday and Saturday will also serve as the team's OVC openers. The Racers will take on Tennessee Tech on Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by Jacksonville State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Murray State (2-7, 0-0 OVC) comes into Friday's opener after a tough outing last weekend at West Virginia's Gold & Blue Classic. On Friday, the Racers were swept by Cleveland State, before falling in a five-set heartbreaker to the host Mountaineers on Saturday.
Despite the losses, freshman Taylor Olden (Lincoln, Ill.) has had quite the impact in her first collegiate season and enters the weekend having led the Racers, either by herself or with teammates, in kills in each of the past five matches. Olden has tallied 74 kills so far this season and is averaging 2.31 per set. She is just seven kills behind team-leader freshman Emily Schmahl (Edgewood, Ky.) who averages 2.61 per set and has a team-high attack percentage of .206.
Senior setter Lia Havili (Haltom City, Texas) currently leads MSU with 251 total assists and 8.37 per set. She currently ranks eighth in the OVC in assists per sets.
Scouting The Opponents:
Tennessee Tech (2-10, 0-0 OVC): The Golden Eagles are coming off their second win of the season, a 3-0 victory over Alcorn State at last weekend's Bulldog Invitational hosted by Samford. Last weekend's victory over the Braves marked the second time this season that Tech has defeated Alcorn State. The Golden Eagles will enter Friday's match as the No. 2 blocking team in the conference, at 2.11 blocks per set, although the Racers do not trail Tech by much, averaging 1.91per set and are in fourth in the league. Helping lead the way for the Golden Eagles is senior Kelsey Gray (Newark, Ohio), who is currently averaging 2.16 kills per set and team-highs of 1.19 blocks per set and 3.12 points per set.
Jacksonville State (6-8, 0-0 OVC): The Gamecocks had a rough trip to West Lafayette, Ind., last weekend as they lost all three matches at Purdue's Active Ankle Challenge. However, Jacksonville State still brings in one of the league's better hitting percentages at 1.81, compared to .147 by the Racers. Senior Jen Meyer (Maineville, Ohio) has played a key role for the Gamecocks this season by hitting a .280 clip with 123 kills (2.37 per set), 41 digs and 38 blocks.
The Series: The Racers are 31-26 against Tennessee Tech and 3-12 against Jacksonville State all-time. At Racer Arena, MSU has won 16 of 26 meetings with the Golden Eagles and two of seven contests with the Gamecocks. Tennessee Tech won the last meeting, a 3-1 defeat for the Racers in Cookeville, after Murray State won 3-0 earlier in the year at home. The Gamecocks have had the Racers' number in recent years, having won the last seven meetings between the two schools, including both last year. The last Murray State victory came on Nov. 15, 2008, in the form of a 3-1 win at Racer Arena
Adding To The Trophy Case: Several racers have racked up honors this season for their performance in early season tournaments. Taylor Olden received All-Tournament honors for her performance at both the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational and West Virginia's Gold & Blue Classic, while Emily Schmahl was named to the Hyatt Place Fort Wayne/IPFW Invitational All-Tournament Squad. After capturing the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational tournament championship as a team, Lia Havili was named as the event's most valuable player.
Starting Out: Murray State is currently 15-14 all-time in OVC openers and is 14-15 in openers at Racer Arena. They have now won eight of their 13 OVC home openers and are 0-2 against Tennessee Tech in games that kick-off league play
Can't Make It To Racer?: There are two ways to follow Murray State volleyball away from Racer Arena for this year's home matches. Both live stats and live video, courtesy of the OVC digittal network, will be available for all home matches this season and both options are free to all fans. Live stats can be viewed either on desktop, laptop or most mobile devices. Live Stats vs. Tennessee Tech Live Stats vs. Jacksonville State OVC Digital Network
It's Back…: The popular “Serve For A Shirt” promotion returns to Racer Arena for the 2012 season. All fans in attendance will have the chance to win a free t-shirt or a gift certificate by taking to the arena floor and aiming their serves at targets on the ground.
What's Next: The Racers will have just two days off before resuming OVC play on Tuesday night at home, when they face Austin Peay at 7 p.m.
Murray State (2-7, 0-0 OVC) comes into Friday's opener after a tough outing last weekend at West Virginia's Gold & Blue Classic. On Friday, the Racers were swept by Cleveland State, before falling in a five-set heartbreaker to the host Mountaineers on Saturday.
Despite the losses, freshman Taylor Olden (Lincoln, Ill.) has had quite the impact in her first collegiate season and enters the weekend having led the Racers, either by herself or with teammates, in kills in each of the past five matches. Olden has tallied 74 kills so far this season and is averaging 2.31 per set. She is just seven kills behind team-leader freshman Emily Schmahl (Edgewood, Ky.) who averages 2.61 per set and has a team-high attack percentage of .206.
Senior setter Lia Havili (Haltom City, Texas) currently leads MSU with 251 total assists and 8.37 per set. She currently ranks eighth in the OVC in assists per sets.
Scouting The Opponents:
Tennessee Tech (2-10, 0-0 OVC): The Golden Eagles are coming off their second win of the season, a 3-0 victory over Alcorn State at last weekend's Bulldog Invitational hosted by Samford. Last weekend's victory over the Braves marked the second time this season that Tech has defeated Alcorn State. The Golden Eagles will enter Friday's match as the No. 2 blocking team in the conference, at 2.11 blocks per set, although the Racers do not trail Tech by much, averaging 1.91per set and are in fourth in the league. Helping lead the way for the Golden Eagles is senior Kelsey Gray (Newark, Ohio), who is currently averaging 2.16 kills per set and team-highs of 1.19 blocks per set and 3.12 points per set.
Jacksonville State (6-8, 0-0 OVC): The Gamecocks had a rough trip to West Lafayette, Ind., last weekend as they lost all three matches at Purdue's Active Ankle Challenge. However, Jacksonville State still brings in one of the league's better hitting percentages at 1.81, compared to .147 by the Racers. Senior Jen Meyer (Maineville, Ohio) has played a key role for the Gamecocks this season by hitting a .280 clip with 123 kills (2.37 per set), 41 digs and 38 blocks.
The Series: The Racers are 31-26 against Tennessee Tech and 3-12 against Jacksonville State all-time. At Racer Arena, MSU has won 16 of 26 meetings with the Golden Eagles and two of seven contests with the Gamecocks. Tennessee Tech won the last meeting, a 3-1 defeat for the Racers in Cookeville, after Murray State won 3-0 earlier in the year at home. The Gamecocks have had the Racers' number in recent years, having won the last seven meetings between the two schools, including both last year. The last Murray State victory came on Nov. 15, 2008, in the form of a 3-1 win at Racer Arena
Adding To The Trophy Case: Several racers have racked up honors this season for their performance in early season tournaments. Taylor Olden received All-Tournament honors for her performance at both the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational and West Virginia's Gold & Blue Classic, while Emily Schmahl was named to the Hyatt Place Fort Wayne/IPFW Invitational All-Tournament Squad. After capturing the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational tournament championship as a team, Lia Havili was named as the event's most valuable player.
Starting Out: Murray State is currently 15-14 all-time in OVC openers and is 14-15 in openers at Racer Arena. They have now won eight of their 13 OVC home openers and are 0-2 against Tennessee Tech in games that kick-off league play
Can't Make It To Racer?: There are two ways to follow Murray State volleyball away from Racer Arena for this year's home matches. Both live stats and live video, courtesy of the OVC digittal network, will be available for all home matches this season and both options are free to all fans. Live stats can be viewed either on desktop, laptop or most mobile devices. Live Stats vs. Tennessee Tech Live Stats vs. Jacksonville State OVC Digital Network
It's Back…: The popular “Serve For A Shirt” promotion returns to Racer Arena for the 2012 season. All fans in attendance will have the chance to win a free t-shirt or a gift certificate by taking to the arena floor and aiming their serves at targets on the ground.
What's Next: The Racers will have just two days off before resuming OVC play on Tuesday night at home, when they face Austin Peay at 7 p.m.
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