Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Miami of Ohio
Volleyball Returns Home to Host Blue Raider Bash
9/8/2006 10:52:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee volleyball returns home this weekend to host the Blue Raider Bash, which runs Friday to Sunday in the Alumni Memorial Gym.
The Blue Raiders welcome St. Louis, Illinois-Chicago, Creighton and Miami of Ohio to the round-robin tournament. The tournament begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday when Illinois-Chicago faces St. Louis. The tournament lasts all day Saturday and there is one match on Sunday.
Middle Tennessee is coming off a tough tournament in Nebraska in which the squad faced the top-ranked Cornhuskers as well as volleyball powerhouses Long Beach State and St. Mary's of California. The Blue Raiders won one match in the tournament, defeating St. Mary's in five games, and now have an overall record of 4-2.
"I think playing at Nebraska has really prepared us for the rest of the season," said Head Coach Matt Peck. "The win over St. Mary's was huge for our team but also for our confidence level overall."
The Blue Raiders traditionally perform well in the Alumni Memorial Gym, only losing three matches in the facility last season, but the team has had to practice in other facilities the last few weeks due to the AMG's floor being resurfaced. The floor has been redone and a new Middle Tennessee logo placed at center court.
"The players are really excited about the new surface," Peck said. "We have been on the road for the last two weeks and it is nice to just be home."
Middle Tennessee opens the tournament on Friday by hosting Miami of Ohio at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Raiders play St. Louis at noon and Illinois-Chicago at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and round out the tournament by facing Creighton at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
