Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, September 5
Manhattan, Kan.
10:00 a.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
UCF
Volleyball Heads to Kansas State for Varney's Invitational
9/4/2014 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Blue Raider volleyball team will continue its tough non-conference schedule as they make the trek to Manhattan, Kan., for the Varney's Invitational at Kansas State where they will play UCF, Kansas State and Arkansas.
The Blue Raiders will start the invitational with an early 10 a.m. match against the Knights before facing host Kansas State (7 p.m.) and ending the round-robin tournament with Arkansas (1 p.m.) on Saturday.
Fans can follow the Blue Raiders this weekend by clicking here for live stats and can listen to the K-State match via audio by tuning in here.
ABOUT THE BLUE RAIDERS
Tough Stretch Ahead
Starting with this weekend, four of the Blue Raiders' next six opponents will have a combined record of 14-6 while three opponents are undefeated, including two teams MT will face this weekend in UCF (4-0) and Arkansas (3-0).
Johnson Off to a Strong Start
In the first four games of the season, Jazmyne Johnson has gotten off to a solid start for the Raiders as the junior is averaging just over 10 kills per match. The 41 kills and 18 blocks is the best four-game stretch she's had in her career at MT. In the match against SIU, the Desoto, Texas native tallied a career-high 17 kills and a .727 hitting percentage. She currently leads the team at a .305 hitting clip and is second in kills and blocks.
Pannone Adjusting Well to College
Freshman Brianna Pannone has played consistently well to start the year off as she is leading the team with 55 assists while averaging 4.58 assists per set. The setter posted a career-high 24 assists against Southern Illinois on Tuesday.
A Stat to Look at
Through the first four games of the season, the Blue Raiders have allowed opponents to hit an average of .231. In MT's win against BGSU, the Falcons hit just .113 while opponents have hit .281 in the Blue Raiders' three setbacks.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Scouting UCF (4-0, 0-0 AAC)
The Knights have yet to drop a set this season as they defeated all four opponents last weekend at the Radisson UCF Invitational 3-0 while outscoring its opponents by an average of 25 – 16.42 per set. Former Blue Raider Jale Hervey has paced the Knights with 60 kills and five kills per set. Teammate Jade Hayes is leading UCF defensively with 80 digs while Delaina Sarden paces UCF with 13 blocks.
Scouting Kansas State (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Host Kansas State is heading into the Invitational with a 2-1 mark while recently suffering a straight-set defeat to Arizona at the Green Bay Country Inn & Suites Invitational. Brooke Sassin leads the 'Cats with 24 kills and a .284 hitting percentage while Katie Reininger leads the way with 14 blocks and is second on the squad with a .245 hitting percentage and 19 kills. Teammate Katie Brand has compiled a team-best 80 assists.
Scouting Arkansas (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
The Razorbacks are coming off a clean sweep at the Arkansas Invitational after a five-set win over Michigan. Meredith Hays leads the Razorbacks with 36 kills while teammate Bailee Hankenson paces the team in assists (93) and assists per set (8.45), and Chanell Clark-Bibbs is leading Arkansas with 18 blocks.
SERIES HISTORY
UCF: The Knights hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series as MT fell to UCF in five sets on Sept. 25, 1995.
Kansas State: Friday's match between the Blue Raiders and the Wildcats will be the first-ever meeting.
Arkansas: MT is 1-3 against Arkansas while the only win for the Blue Raiders came on Sept. 10, 2010 in Alumni Memorial Gym in a four-set affair.
NEXT UP: Virginia Tech/ Blue Raider Bash
The Hokies will be next on the Blue Raiders' schedule next Thursday when the two opponents square off in Alumni Memorial Gym at 6 p.m., before MT hosts the Blue Raider Bash against No. 9 Illinois and Belmont next weekend.
The Blue Raiders will start the invitational with an early 10 a.m. match against the Knights before facing host Kansas State (7 p.m.) and ending the round-robin tournament with Arkansas (1 p.m.) on Saturday.
Fans can follow the Blue Raiders this weekend by clicking here for live stats and can listen to the K-State match via audio by tuning in here.
ABOUT THE BLUE RAIDERS
Tough Stretch Ahead
Starting with this weekend, four of the Blue Raiders' next six opponents will have a combined record of 14-6 while three opponents are undefeated, including two teams MT will face this weekend in UCF (4-0) and Arkansas (3-0).
Johnson Off to a Strong Start
In the first four games of the season, Jazmyne Johnson has gotten off to a solid start for the Raiders as the junior is averaging just over 10 kills per match. The 41 kills and 18 blocks is the best four-game stretch she's had in her career at MT. In the match against SIU, the Desoto, Texas native tallied a career-high 17 kills and a .727 hitting percentage. She currently leads the team at a .305 hitting clip and is second in kills and blocks.
Pannone Adjusting Well to College
Freshman Brianna Pannone has played consistently well to start the year off as she is leading the team with 55 assists while averaging 4.58 assists per set. The setter posted a career-high 24 assists against Southern Illinois on Tuesday.
A Stat to Look at
Through the first four games of the season, the Blue Raiders have allowed opponents to hit an average of .231. In MT's win against BGSU, the Falcons hit just .113 while opponents have hit .281 in the Blue Raiders' three setbacks.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Scouting UCF (4-0, 0-0 AAC)
The Knights have yet to drop a set this season as they defeated all four opponents last weekend at the Radisson UCF Invitational 3-0 while outscoring its opponents by an average of 25 – 16.42 per set. Former Blue Raider Jale Hervey has paced the Knights with 60 kills and five kills per set. Teammate Jade Hayes is leading UCF defensively with 80 digs while Delaina Sarden paces UCF with 13 blocks.
Scouting Kansas State (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Host Kansas State is heading into the Invitational with a 2-1 mark while recently suffering a straight-set defeat to Arizona at the Green Bay Country Inn & Suites Invitational. Brooke Sassin leads the 'Cats with 24 kills and a .284 hitting percentage while Katie Reininger leads the way with 14 blocks and is second on the squad with a .245 hitting percentage and 19 kills. Teammate Katie Brand has compiled a team-best 80 assists.
Scouting Arkansas (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
The Razorbacks are coming off a clean sweep at the Arkansas Invitational after a five-set win over Michigan. Meredith Hays leads the Razorbacks with 36 kills while teammate Bailee Hankenson paces the team in assists (93) and assists per set (8.45), and Chanell Clark-Bibbs is leading Arkansas with 18 blocks.
SERIES HISTORY
UCF: The Knights hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series as MT fell to UCF in five sets on Sept. 25, 1995.
Kansas State: Friday's match between the Blue Raiders and the Wildcats will be the first-ever meeting.
Arkansas: MT is 1-3 against Arkansas while the only win for the Blue Raiders came on Sept. 10, 2010 in Alumni Memorial Gym in a four-set affair.
NEXT UP: Virginia Tech/ Blue Raider Bash
The Hokies will be next on the Blue Raiders' schedule next Thursday when the two opponents square off in Alumni Memorial Gym at 6 p.m., before MT hosts the Blue Raider Bash against No. 9 Illinois and Belmont next weekend.
Players Mentioned
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