Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, September 28
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
Southern Miss
MT Opens C-USA Play at Marshall, Host Southern Miss
9/25/2014 11:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Murfreesboro, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (4-9) will open conference play on the road Friday in Huntington, W.Va., for a 5 p.m., match against Marshall before coming back to Alumni Memorial Gym two days later against Southern Miss at 1 p.m.
Friday, September 26
Middle Tennessee at Marshall – 5 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
Sunday, September 28
Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Miss – 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio (Free)
About the Blue Raiders
Last time Out
MT finished 1-2 in its final round-robin tournament at the Seton Hall Classic. The Blue Raiders defeated Fordham 3-0 in their first sweep of the season while dropping five-set matches to Dartmouth and host Seton Hall. Sophomore Jazmyne Johnson and Chelsea Ross were named to the Seton Hall Classic All-Tournament team.
Conference Opener
Friday's match against Marshall will begin the second season in Conference USA for the Blue Raiders. MT finished with an 8-6 mark while tying for fourth place. In 10 seasons under Peck, the Blue Raiders are 6-4 in conference openers and holds a 3-2 mark when the team begins conference play on the road.
Johnson Coming Along
Johnson is on the best three-game stretch of her career as the Desoto, Texas native is averaging 16 kills per contest, just more than six above than her season average (9.9). The outside hitter has also done well on the defensive end as well, averaging four blocks per match and has tallied at least 10 kills and five blocks in three matches this season.
MT at the Top Statistically
Despite MT's 4-9 record, five different Blue Raiders are in the top five in four different categories in C-USA while junior Chelsea Ross is second in kills (5.05 per set) and points (5.63 per set), while Johnson is fourth in points at 4.11 per set. Senior Monét Marshall leads the conference in blocks per set at 1.57 while junior Rachel Shaughnessy sits in second with 1.42 blocks per set and is tied with a conference-high 54 swats. Johnson's 1.37 blocks per set ranks third while her 52 total blocks is second in the conference. Freshman Jacqueline Lux continues her solid play at libero at 4.84 digs per set, which stands at second in the conference.
About the Opponents
Scouting Marshall (6-9, 1-0 C-USA)
Marshall improved to 6-9 on Tuesday night and started out conference play on the road with a victory over Charlotte in five sets. The Thundering Herd has a young squad as 11 of the team's 15 players are either a freshman or sophomore. Cassie Weaver leads the Herd with 144 kills at 2.72 kill per set, while Sammie Bane paces the team with 422 assists and Jillian Shemanski leads Marshall defensively with 59 blocks.
Scouting Southern Miss (12-6, 1-0 C-USA)
The Golden Eagles boast a mark of 12-6 while sweeping La. Tech on the road in their conference opener while winning three of their last four matches on the road. Southern Miss has a mix of experience and youth while nine of the 15 player are either a junior or a senior. MT will have to make its attacking opportunities count as the Golden Eagles are first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage at .146, as well as assists and kills. Stephany Purdue has tallied 198 kills this season to lead USM while teammate Kristen Fleming is leading the way with 454 assists with an assist per set of 7.83. Jasmine Crowell paces USM with 56 swats and Mary Pursell has amassed a team-best 237 digs.
Series History
Marshall
The Blue Raiders and Thundering Herd have played just twice all-time as both teams have a win under their belt in the series. Last season, Marshall edged MT in five sets on Marshall's home floor.
Southern Miss
MT has won the past two matches in the series to take a 2-1 lead all-time against USM. The Blue Raiders pushed past the Golden Eagles in four sets at Alumni Memorial Gym late in the season.
Next Up: UTSA, La. Tech
The Blue Raiders will play their next two matches at Alumni Memorial Gym as MT will square off against UTSA on Friday at 7 p.m., before coming back on Sunday to play La. Tech at 1 p.m.
Friday, September 26
Middle Tennessee at Marshall – 5 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
Sunday, September 28
Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Miss – 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio (Free)
About the Blue Raiders
Last time Out
MT finished 1-2 in its final round-robin tournament at the Seton Hall Classic. The Blue Raiders defeated Fordham 3-0 in their first sweep of the season while dropping five-set matches to Dartmouth and host Seton Hall. Sophomore Jazmyne Johnson and Chelsea Ross were named to the Seton Hall Classic All-Tournament team.
Conference Opener
Friday's match against Marshall will begin the second season in Conference USA for the Blue Raiders. MT finished with an 8-6 mark while tying for fourth place. In 10 seasons under Peck, the Blue Raiders are 6-4 in conference openers and holds a 3-2 mark when the team begins conference play on the road.
Johnson Coming Along
Johnson is on the best three-game stretch of her career as the Desoto, Texas native is averaging 16 kills per contest, just more than six above than her season average (9.9). The outside hitter has also done well on the defensive end as well, averaging four blocks per match and has tallied at least 10 kills and five blocks in three matches this season.
MT at the Top Statistically
Despite MT's 4-9 record, five different Blue Raiders are in the top five in four different categories in C-USA while junior Chelsea Ross is second in kills (5.05 per set) and points (5.63 per set), while Johnson is fourth in points at 4.11 per set. Senior Monét Marshall leads the conference in blocks per set at 1.57 while junior Rachel Shaughnessy sits in second with 1.42 blocks per set and is tied with a conference-high 54 swats. Johnson's 1.37 blocks per set ranks third while her 52 total blocks is second in the conference. Freshman Jacqueline Lux continues her solid play at libero at 4.84 digs per set, which stands at second in the conference.
About the Opponents
Scouting Marshall (6-9, 1-0 C-USA)
Marshall improved to 6-9 on Tuesday night and started out conference play on the road with a victory over Charlotte in five sets. The Thundering Herd has a young squad as 11 of the team's 15 players are either a freshman or sophomore. Cassie Weaver leads the Herd with 144 kills at 2.72 kill per set, while Sammie Bane paces the team with 422 assists and Jillian Shemanski leads Marshall defensively with 59 blocks.
Scouting Southern Miss (12-6, 1-0 C-USA)
The Golden Eagles boast a mark of 12-6 while sweeping La. Tech on the road in their conference opener while winning three of their last four matches on the road. Southern Miss has a mix of experience and youth while nine of the 15 player are either a junior or a senior. MT will have to make its attacking opportunities count as the Golden Eagles are first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage at .146, as well as assists and kills. Stephany Purdue has tallied 198 kills this season to lead USM while teammate Kristen Fleming is leading the way with 454 assists with an assist per set of 7.83. Jasmine Crowell paces USM with 56 swats and Mary Pursell has amassed a team-best 237 digs.
Series History
Marshall
The Blue Raiders and Thundering Herd have played just twice all-time as both teams have a win under their belt in the series. Last season, Marshall edged MT in five sets on Marshall's home floor.
Southern Miss
MT has won the past two matches in the series to take a 2-1 lead all-time against USM. The Blue Raiders pushed past the Golden Eagles in four sets at Alumni Memorial Gym late in the season.
Next Up: UTSA, La. Tech
The Blue Raiders will play their next two matches at Alumni Memorial Gym as MT will square off against UTSA on Friday at 7 p.m., before coming back on Sunday to play La. Tech at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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