Volleyball set for Sun Belt Championship rematch

Friday, October 1

Alumni Memorial Gym

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

FIU

Photo by: Athletic Communications

9/30/2010 4:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - After meeting in the Sun Belt Championship match last season, the Middle Tennessee volleyball team is set to take on defending Sun Belt regular season champion FIU on Friday evening before concluding play this weekend against Florida Atlantic on Saturday. "This is a very important weekend for us," said head coach Matt Peck. "These will be our first home Sun Belt matches, and we'll be facing some pretty tough competition. FIU has won their last 20 regular conference season matches dating back to 2008, and FAU is much improved from last season. We expect a tough match on both days." Middle Tennessee enters this weekend on a tear of their own, having won their last nine matches, which includes a pair of sweeps at UALR and Arkansas State last week. The Blue Raiders (12-4, 3-0 Sun Belt) are led this season by Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Izabela Kozon. As has been the case for much of her career, the senior outside hitter leads the team in kills with 240, and after posting 26 last weekend, Kozon is now second in school history in the category with 1,463. She's also been outstanding defensively with 127 digs this season, sitting just five shy of 1,000 for her career. While Kozon has put up some stellar numbers, there's a lot of praise to go around for the Blue Raider offense, which features three other players who have tallied over 100 kills this season. Despite missing a number of sets earlier in the year, Ashley Adams boasts of 133 kills in just 11 matches played. Maria Szivos and Stacy Oladinni are third and fourth on the team in the category with 118 and 116, respectively. Defensively, Brynne Henderson has been the anchor for MT with a team-best 212 digs. Both Oladinni and Lindsay Cheatham have been impressive on the frontline, combining for 129 blocks. Last year, after posting a perfect 17-0 record in conference play, FIU fell to Middle Tennessee in four sets in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship, handing the Blue Raiders their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. This season, the Panthers are 2-0 in Sun Belt play and 8-6 overall. Since 2006, MT holds a 7-3 series edge over FIU. FIU is led by Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Natalia Valentin. The senior setter is averaging over 10 assists per set and has dished out 543 helpers this season. She's also been a force defensively with 143 digs and 21 blocks. Middle Tennessee will follow up play on Friday with a match vs. an improved Florida Atlantic side. The Owls are 10-8 this year, with a 1-1 mark in conference play, falling in three sets vs. North Texas last weekend before rebounding with a four-set decision over Denver. The Blue Raiders have not dropped a match to FAU since October of 2006. Christina Wallinger and Kristyna Dzmuranova serve as the primary offensive combo for the Owls, tallying 175 and 158 kills, respectively. They've also been an impressive defensive duo, sharing the team lead in blocks with 59. This weekend's matches will serve as the start for Middle Tennessee's Dig Pink campaign, which is as a month-long initiative aimed at raising breast cancer awareness. Pink shirts will be available for purchase at each match this month with the proceeds going towards the Side Out Foundation, who will distribute the funds raised to medical research organizations and breast cancer patient support groups. The Blue Raiders will begin play against FIU on Friday evening at 7 p.m. before taking on Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches will be played at Alumni Memorial Gym.