Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, August 30
St. Louis, Mo.
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
Saint Louis
MT Volleyball set to begin 2019 campaign Friday
8/29/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Blue Raiders to take on three opponents this weekend
Marcia E. Hamilton Classic (St. Louis, Mo.)
Friday, Aug. 30 — MT vs. Saint Louis — 6 p.m. — Live Stats — Live Stream
Saturday, Aug. 31 — MT vs. Portland State — 10 a.m. — Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 31 — MT vs. Southern Illinois — 5 p.m. — Live Stats
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A young Middle Tennessee team will take the volleyball court in St. Louis, Mo. three times this weekend in the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, including matches against Saint Louis, Portland State and Southern Illinois.
Bri Tankesley returns for her senior year after playing all 101 sets and leading her team in digs with 385 in 2018. Classmate Taylor Hammill will be looking for a great start to her final season at MT after posting a team-best hitting percentage of .282 to go with 576 assists. A third senior, Dora Peonia, rounds out the returning starters from last season.
The Blue Raiders field a team with four freshmen and three sophomores, all vying for starting spots on this year's squad. Those four freshmen along with senior Mikaela Weidmann and junior Urte Neimantaite make six newcomers, meaning half of Head Coach Chuck Crawford's roster will be making their Blue Raider debut this weekend.
"I've been part of programs that were more athletic — in the Power 5 conferences — but this team's focus, willingness to learn and camaraderie on and off the court makes this the best preseason I've ever had," Crawford said.
"These girls fight for each other on the court, and that is a testament to how strong this team is off the court."
As for MT's first opponent of the new season, tournament host Saint Louis returns six starters and 12 total letter-winners from last season. Junior Maya Taylor is expected to be an impact player for the Billikens again this year after earning First Team All-A10 honors last season.
Head Coach Kent Miller's team was picked to finish third in the A10 in 2019, his ninth season as the program's leader. The Billikens lead the all-time series over MT, 4-2.
Portland State will be Middle Tennessee's first opponent on Saturday. The Vikings will field an even younger and less-experienced team than the Blue Raiders, as seven of their eight newcomers are freshmen.
After a 5-25 record last season, Portland State was picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference this year. Saturday's meeting will be the first ever meeting between the Blue Raiders and Vikings.
The first weekend of the season will conclude on Saturday night against Southern Illinois. The Salukis ended last year at 5-26 but bring Ed Allen in as Head Coach in 2019 following eight years as the leader of Alabama's volleyball program. Despite strength at the middle blocker and setter positions, SIU will dress four newcomers to play outside hitter.
Southern Illinois was voted to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Salukis and Blue Raiders split the only two meetings between the two programs in 2013 and 2014.
"My hope for this weekend is that we compete and stay focused on the process," Crawford added. "We've reminded the players that this season is a marathon, not a sprint. Ultimately, our goal is to make the conference tournament, and these non-conference matches are just preparation for conference play later in the year."
Live stats are available for all of this weekend's matches, and MT's match against Saint Louis can be seen on ESPN+.
Keep up with Blue Raider Volleyball online: Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball on Facebook, @MT_Volleyball on Twitter and @mt_volleyball on Instagram.
Friday, Aug. 30 — MT vs. Saint Louis — 6 p.m. — Live Stats — Live Stream
Saturday, Aug. 31 — MT vs. Portland State — 10 a.m. — Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 31 — MT vs. Southern Illinois — 5 p.m. — Live Stats
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A young Middle Tennessee team will take the volleyball court in St. Louis, Mo. three times this weekend in the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, including matches against Saint Louis, Portland State and Southern Illinois.
Bri Tankesley returns for her senior year after playing all 101 sets and leading her team in digs with 385 in 2018. Classmate Taylor Hammill will be looking for a great start to her final season at MT after posting a team-best hitting percentage of .282 to go with 576 assists. A third senior, Dora Peonia, rounds out the returning starters from last season.
The Blue Raiders field a team with four freshmen and three sophomores, all vying for starting spots on this year's squad. Those four freshmen along with senior Mikaela Weidmann and junior Urte Neimantaite make six newcomers, meaning half of Head Coach Chuck Crawford's roster will be making their Blue Raider debut this weekend.
"I've been part of programs that were more athletic — in the Power 5 conferences — but this team's focus, willingness to learn and camaraderie on and off the court makes this the best preseason I've ever had," Crawford said.
"These girls fight for each other on the court, and that is a testament to how strong this team is off the court."
As for MT's first opponent of the new season, tournament host Saint Louis returns six starters and 12 total letter-winners from last season. Junior Maya Taylor is expected to be an impact player for the Billikens again this year after earning First Team All-A10 honors last season.
Head Coach Kent Miller's team was picked to finish third in the A10 in 2019, his ninth season as the program's leader. The Billikens lead the all-time series over MT, 4-2.
Portland State will be Middle Tennessee's first opponent on Saturday. The Vikings will field an even younger and less-experienced team than the Blue Raiders, as seven of their eight newcomers are freshmen.
After a 5-25 record last season, Portland State was picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference this year. Saturday's meeting will be the first ever meeting between the Blue Raiders and Vikings.
The first weekend of the season will conclude on Saturday night against Southern Illinois. The Salukis ended last year at 5-26 but bring Ed Allen in as Head Coach in 2019 following eight years as the leader of Alabama's volleyball program. Despite strength at the middle blocker and setter positions, SIU will dress four newcomers to play outside hitter.
Southern Illinois was voted to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Salukis and Blue Raiders split the only two meetings between the two programs in 2013 and 2014.
"My hope for this weekend is that we compete and stay focused on the process," Crawford added. "We've reminded the players that this season is a marathon, not a sprint. Ultimately, our goal is to make the conference tournament, and these non-conference matches are just preparation for conference play later in the year."
Live stats are available for all of this weekend's matches, and MT's match against Saint Louis can be seen on ESPN+.
Keep up with Blue Raider Volleyball online: Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball on Facebook, @MT_Volleyball on Twitter and @mt_volleyball on Instagram.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMTSU Volleyball Recap 10/17-18/25
Tuesday, October 21
Middle Made Moments - MTSU Volleyball clean sweep - October 7th
Tuesday, October 07
MTSU Volleyball Recap 9/27-28/25
Monday, September 29
True Blue Testimonials - Caroline Macander MTSU Volleyball Setter - Presented by MMC
Tuesday, September 16
