Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, August 26
Knoxville, Tenn.
4:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
ULM
MT begins Ahiers era with DISH Tennessee Classic
8/25/2016 2:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Blue Raiders set for 40th volleyball season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee enters the Dan Ahiers era as the first-year head coach leads the Blue Raiders against ULM in the season-opening DISH Tennessee Classic hosted by Tennessee.
Named the 10th coach in program history on Jan. 7, Ahiers leads the Blue Raiders into the program's 40th season of volleyball. Along with ULM, MT will face Cincinnati and Tennessee in the invitational.
"It's going to be a great tournament. We've got Cincinnati, Tennessee and ULM. These teams should battle inside the Top-75 in the country this year," Ahiers said. "There will be a lot of big-time athletes, so it will be a great first test."
The Raiders return five letter winners from a season ago. Junior Jacqueline Lux and sophomores Makila York and Vonnie Covington return valuable experience to a youthful squad, while sophomores Delaney Gallagher and Sabrie Sirmones seek to build upon solid performances after their first full seasons with MT.
Lux led the team with 22 service aces and earned a team-high 394 digs during the 2015 campaign, while York returns the most kills (136) from her rookie season. Covington returns the Raiders' best hitting percentage (.408) and blocks (87), and finished 8th in Conference USA with 1.00 blocks per set.
Accompanying the veterans, MT welcomes eight newcomers. After missing the 2015 season, junior Sloan Sullivan is set to return to the court for the Blue and White, and sophomore transfers Regan Coughlin (Coastal Georgia) and Bailey Mason (Truman State) add quality experience and depth for the Raiders.
Freshmen Steph Garner, Aubrie Huddleston, Meg Irvin, Breanna Jager and Dora Peonia round out Ahiers' talented first recruiting class.
ULM is led by third-year head coach Patrick Hiltz. The Warhawks finished the 2015 season 14-18 (3-13 Sun Belt) and return 10 letter winners from a season ago. Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 7-0, including a 3-set sweep during the last meeting in 2012 in Monroe.
Following Friday's season-opener, MT will face Cincinnati and Tennessee in a twin bill Saturday to close the weekend.
Named the 10th coach in program history on Jan. 7, Ahiers leads the Blue Raiders into the program's 40th season of volleyball. Along with ULM, MT will face Cincinnati and Tennessee in the invitational.
"It's going to be a great tournament. We've got Cincinnati, Tennessee and ULM. These teams should battle inside the Top-75 in the country this year," Ahiers said. "There will be a lot of big-time athletes, so it will be a great first test."
The Raiders return five letter winners from a season ago. Junior Jacqueline Lux and sophomores Makila York and Vonnie Covington return valuable experience to a youthful squad, while sophomores Delaney Gallagher and Sabrie Sirmones seek to build upon solid performances after their first full seasons with MT.
Lux led the team with 22 service aces and earned a team-high 394 digs during the 2015 campaign, while York returns the most kills (136) from her rookie season. Covington returns the Raiders' best hitting percentage (.408) and blocks (87), and finished 8th in Conference USA with 1.00 blocks per set.
Accompanying the veterans, MT welcomes eight newcomers. After missing the 2015 season, junior Sloan Sullivan is set to return to the court for the Blue and White, and sophomore transfers Regan Coughlin (Coastal Georgia) and Bailey Mason (Truman State) add quality experience and depth for the Raiders.
Freshmen Steph Garner, Aubrie Huddleston, Meg Irvin, Breanna Jager and Dora Peonia round out Ahiers' talented first recruiting class.
ULM is led by third-year head coach Patrick Hiltz. The Warhawks finished the 2015 season 14-18 (3-13 Sun Belt) and return 10 letter winners from a season ago. Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 7-0, including a 3-set sweep during the last meeting in 2012 in Monroe.
Following Friday's season-opener, MT will face Cincinnati and Tennessee in a twin bill Saturday to close the weekend.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
RS
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