Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, October 10
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
7:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
Rice
Blue Raiders Host Rice, UTEP for Dig Pink Match
10/9/2014 9:37:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Blue Raider volleyball team (6-12, 2-2 C-USA) returns to Conference USA play this weekend in a pair of home matches inside AMG starting with Rice on Friday at 7 p.m., before squaring off against UTEP at 1 p.m.. in the annual dig pink match promoting breast cancer awareness.
Middle Tennessee vs. Rice – 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Middle Tennessee vs. UTEP – 1 p.m.
Live Stats
About the Blue Raiders
Dig Pink
Sunday's match against UTEP will be the annual dig pink game promoting breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and the first 100 fans will receive a pink t-shirt. In addition, the team will honor cancer survivor Wanda Johnson during team introductions.
Last Time Out
MT faced East Tennessee State in its final non-conference match of the season while falling in four sets. Junior Chelsea Ross notched a game-high 18 kills while senior Ailime de Freitas posted a double-double for the second straight game with 18 assists and 10 digs. Freshman Jacqueline Lux notched a team-best 15 digs.
Efficient Shaughnessy
Despite the low number of kills, Junior Rachel Shaughnessy has been efficient for the Blue Raiders in the previous four contests, hitting .169 points better than her season average (.208) with a .377 clip (22-2-53).
Standings Update
With third week upon us in C-USA action, Western Kentucky and UTSA stand tied at the top of the standings with a 5-0 record while Rice sits in second at 4-1. Marshall (3-1), Florida Atlantic (3-2) and North Texas (3-2) round out the top five, while Middle Tennessee is tied with Southern Miss for sixth with a 2-2 mark.
Ross Ranked Nationally
Ross' 277 kills rank 22nd in the country while her 4.07 kill per set is 41st in the nation and stands at 25th in attacks per set (11.57) and 8th in total attacks (787). The Murfreesboro native also leads C-USA with a 5.00 k/set during league play.
About the Opponents
Scouting Rice (14-5, 4-1 C-USA)
The Owls have won six of their last eight contests while starting out October 3-0. WKU handed Rice its only conference loss in five sets on the Hilltoppers' home floor. The Owls are third in league play in hitting percentage (.277), opponent hitting percentage (.165), assists per set (13.33) and kills per set (14.22). Jillian Humphrey leads Rice with 62 kills and a .510 hitting percentage, which also tops in league play. Setter Sara Blasier has notched a team-high and second-best in C-USA with 209 assists. Daniela Arenas is leading the way with 78 digs and Portia Okafor is pacing Rice with 24 blocks.
Scouting UTEP (2-14, 0-5 C-USA)
The Miners will play UAB on Friday before making their way to Murfreesboro. UTEP is on a seven match losing streak with its only two victories coming in four sets against Western Illinois and a sweep over Nevada. Four different players have 100 kills with Coline Coessens leading the team with 151 kills and a kill per set of 2.75. Lindsey Larson's 507 assists paces UTEP and Daya Acevedo Rios leads the Miners with 181 digs. MT will also look to take advantage of the .285 hitting clip the Miners have been allowing against opponents this season.
Series History
Rice: MT won the only meeting in the series history last season in the Blue Raiders' first-ever game in C-USA. The Blue Raiders swept the Owls on their home floor.
UTEP: The Miners hold a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series with UTEP winning last season in four sets on its home court.
Next up: UAB
The Blue Raiders will start a four-game road trip on Tuesday when they make the trek to Birmingham, Ala., for a 6 p.m., match against UAB.
Middle Tennessee vs. Rice – 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Middle Tennessee vs. UTEP – 1 p.m.
Live Stats
About the Blue Raiders
Dig Pink
Sunday's match against UTEP will be the annual dig pink game promoting breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and the first 100 fans will receive a pink t-shirt. In addition, the team will honor cancer survivor Wanda Johnson during team introductions.
Last Time Out
MT faced East Tennessee State in its final non-conference match of the season while falling in four sets. Junior Chelsea Ross notched a game-high 18 kills while senior Ailime de Freitas posted a double-double for the second straight game with 18 assists and 10 digs. Freshman Jacqueline Lux notched a team-best 15 digs.
Efficient Shaughnessy
Despite the low number of kills, Junior Rachel Shaughnessy has been efficient for the Blue Raiders in the previous four contests, hitting .169 points better than her season average (.208) with a .377 clip (22-2-53).
Standings Update
With third week upon us in C-USA action, Western Kentucky and UTSA stand tied at the top of the standings with a 5-0 record while Rice sits in second at 4-1. Marshall (3-1), Florida Atlantic (3-2) and North Texas (3-2) round out the top five, while Middle Tennessee is tied with Southern Miss for sixth with a 2-2 mark.
Ross Ranked Nationally
Ross' 277 kills rank 22nd in the country while her 4.07 kill per set is 41st in the nation and stands at 25th in attacks per set (11.57) and 8th in total attacks (787). The Murfreesboro native also leads C-USA with a 5.00 k/set during league play.
About the Opponents
Scouting Rice (14-5, 4-1 C-USA)
The Owls have won six of their last eight contests while starting out October 3-0. WKU handed Rice its only conference loss in five sets on the Hilltoppers' home floor. The Owls are third in league play in hitting percentage (.277), opponent hitting percentage (.165), assists per set (13.33) and kills per set (14.22). Jillian Humphrey leads Rice with 62 kills and a .510 hitting percentage, which also tops in league play. Setter Sara Blasier has notched a team-high and second-best in C-USA with 209 assists. Daniela Arenas is leading the way with 78 digs and Portia Okafor is pacing Rice with 24 blocks.
Scouting UTEP (2-14, 0-5 C-USA)
The Miners will play UAB on Friday before making their way to Murfreesboro. UTEP is on a seven match losing streak with its only two victories coming in four sets against Western Illinois and a sweep over Nevada. Four different players have 100 kills with Coline Coessens leading the team with 151 kills and a kill per set of 2.75. Lindsey Larson's 507 assists paces UTEP and Daya Acevedo Rios leads the Miners with 181 digs. MT will also look to take advantage of the .285 hitting clip the Miners have been allowing against opponents this season.
Series History
Rice: MT won the only meeting in the series history last season in the Blue Raiders' first-ever game in C-USA. The Blue Raiders swept the Owls on their home floor.
UTEP: The Miners hold a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series with UTEP winning last season in four sets on its home court.
Next up: UAB
The Blue Raiders will start a four-game road trip on Tuesday when they make the trek to Birmingham, Ala., for a 6 p.m., match against UAB.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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