Two of C-USA's best to battle in Birmingham

Sunday, November 1

Birmingham, Ala.

1:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

UAB

10/31/2015 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Ross leads MT against UAB and Deshotel

By: @MT Athletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee will look for their third consecutive victory when they take on UAB Sunday in Birmingham.

The Blue Raiders will enter action in sole possession of ninth place in the conference standings, just one match behind Marshall for the final Conference USA Tournament spot. The conference standings are in fact so jumbled that places 2-10 are separated by only 4.5 matches. MT still has a mathematical chance to finish anywhere from second to 13th in the final standings.

UAB is coming off an impressive five set win over Marshall Friday for their first C-USA win of the season. MT has also impressed recently with a five set over FIU at home last Sunday, and a dominating 3-0 win over LA Tech Friday in Ruston, La.

Sunday's match will also be a battle between two of C-USA's best players. Chelsea Ross and UAB's Gabby Deshotel are not only in the top of several conference stat lists, but they're also ranked in the top 40 nationally in six stat categories, including three in which they're each in the top 10.

Entering the weekend, Deshotel ranks 32nd with 4.72 points per set, 26th earning 4.29 kills per set, 14th with 12.07 attacks per set, tied for 11th with 444.0 total points, eighth with 403 total kills and fourth with 1135 total attacks. Ross entered play 10th in points per set with 5.22, sixth with 12.65 attacks per set, sixth in kills per set with 4.80, sixth with 465.0 total points, sixth in total attacks with 1126, and fourth in total kills with 427.

Middle Tennessee will also be looking for the season sweep, as they beat the Blazers 3-0 in Murfreesboro on September 16. The Raiders had to battle as each set was close. A 6-1 run to close the first frame gave it to MT 25-20. In the second the raiders took a 12-5 lead with a 9-1 run. UAB cut the gap to one at 18-17, but MT was able to hold on 25-23. UAB took a 5-0 lead early in the third, but the Raiders fought back with a 5-1 run midway through the set and then closed the frame with the final seven points to give them another 25-23 win and a 3-0 match victory.

Ross led all scorers with 20 kills and hit her career high .457 in the match. Jacqueline Lux led the back row with 10 digs as Rachel Shaughnessy picked up five blocks, tied for most in the match. Deshotel earned 12 kills, as she was the only other player in the match to reach double-figures besides Ross.

The Raiders won't be scoreboard watching Sunday, mainly because each of the three teams currently ahead of them will not play. Marshall, Rice and Southern Miss all have the remainder of the weekend off, but MT can still gain a half game on each with a win over the Blazers.