Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, September 20
Cookeville, Tenn.
4:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
vs
Southern Illinois
Photo by: UE Athletics
Blue Raiders Set for Golden Eagle Invitational
9/19/2019 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Golden Eagle Invitational
Friday, Sept. 20 – MT vs. Southern Illinois – 4 p.m. CT – Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 – MT vs. Western Illinois – 12:30 p.m. CT – Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 – MT vs. Tennessee Tech – 7:30 p.m. CT – Live Stats - Live Stream
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The Middle Tennessee volleyball team heads to Cookeville this weekend for the Golden Eagle Invitational hosted by Tennessee Tech. This is the final non-conference tournament of the season for the Blue Raiders, and they will face Southern Illinois, Western Illinois and host Tennessee Tech.
Alabama A&M Recap
MT volleyball traveled to Huntsville, Ala. Tuesday to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and claimed the match in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, to improve to 3-7 on the season.
Senior Dora Peonia led the match in attacks with 14 kills in only three sets. Bri Tankesley recorded 16 digs, as well as three service aces. Samira Lawson-Body also contributed three aces to the teams nine total on the match. Freshman Dasia Smith saw her first full collegiate start and finished with a .625 hitting percentage.
Scouting the Opposition
Southern Illinois
The Salukis have a 6-5 record and are currently on a two-game winning streak after defeating Alabama State in the Saluki Invitational in five sets, and UT Martin on Tuesday in five sets.
One player to watch is outside hitter Hannah Becker who had 15 kills against UT Martin and saw five blocks against ASU. Libero Laura Rojas also had a good game against UT Martin and dished out 24 digs.
The Blue Raiders faced the Southern Illinois Salukis earlier in the season at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in Saint Louis. MT looks to redeem itself after falling to SIU in four sets.
Western Illinois
The Leatherbacks enter the tournament with a 3-7 record after dropping all three matches at the Wright State Invitational last weekend. They fell to Toledo, host Wright State and Indiana State all in three sets.
In their last meeting in 2004, the Leatherbacks defeated the Blue Raiders in three sets at the Missouri State Tournament. However, MT still leads the series history, 3-1.
Tennessee Tech
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles have a 2-8 overall record after going 2-1 at the Chattanooga Classic last weekend and falling to Evansville in five sets on Tuesday.
There were four players that recorded 10-plus kills against Evansville, two of which had a total 15 kills in the five sets. One player to watch is setter Ashley Hand saw a season-high 58 assists against the Purple Aces, and has 16 kills total on the season.
The last time the Blue Raiders and Golden Eagles matched-up was 2016 in the Blue Raider Bash when MT defeated Tennessee Tech in five sets. The Blue Raiders have claimed the last four matchups against the Golden Eagles.
Team Notes
The Blue Raiders host the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Sunday for their first home game of the season. The match will begin at 1 p.m. at the Alumni Memorial Gym and live stats will be available.
Keep up with Blue Raider Volleyball online: Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball on Facebook, @MT_Volleyball on Twitter and @mt_volleyball on Instagram.
Friday, Sept. 20 – MT vs. Southern Illinois – 4 p.m. CT – Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 – MT vs. Western Illinois – 12:30 p.m. CT – Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 – MT vs. Tennessee Tech – 7:30 p.m. CT – Live Stats - Live Stream
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The Middle Tennessee volleyball team heads to Cookeville this weekend for the Golden Eagle Invitational hosted by Tennessee Tech. This is the final non-conference tournament of the season for the Blue Raiders, and they will face Southern Illinois, Western Illinois and host Tennessee Tech.
Alabama A&M Recap
MT volleyball traveled to Huntsville, Ala. Tuesday to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and claimed the match in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, to improve to 3-7 on the season.
Senior Dora Peonia led the match in attacks with 14 kills in only three sets. Bri Tankesley recorded 16 digs, as well as three service aces. Samira Lawson-Body also contributed three aces to the teams nine total on the match. Freshman Dasia Smith saw her first full collegiate start and finished with a .625 hitting percentage.
Scouting the Opposition
Southern Illinois
The Salukis have a 6-5 record and are currently on a two-game winning streak after defeating Alabama State in the Saluki Invitational in five sets, and UT Martin on Tuesday in five sets.
One player to watch is outside hitter Hannah Becker who had 15 kills against UT Martin and saw five blocks against ASU. Libero Laura Rojas also had a good game against UT Martin and dished out 24 digs.
The Blue Raiders faced the Southern Illinois Salukis earlier in the season at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in Saint Louis. MT looks to redeem itself after falling to SIU in four sets.
Western Illinois
The Leatherbacks enter the tournament with a 3-7 record after dropping all three matches at the Wright State Invitational last weekend. They fell to Toledo, host Wright State and Indiana State all in three sets.
In their last meeting in 2004, the Leatherbacks defeated the Blue Raiders in three sets at the Missouri State Tournament. However, MT still leads the series history, 3-1.
Tennessee Tech
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles have a 2-8 overall record after going 2-1 at the Chattanooga Classic last weekend and falling to Evansville in five sets on Tuesday.
There were four players that recorded 10-plus kills against Evansville, two of which had a total 15 kills in the five sets. One player to watch is setter Ashley Hand saw a season-high 58 assists against the Purple Aces, and has 16 kills total on the season.
The last time the Blue Raiders and Golden Eagles matched-up was 2016 in the Blue Raider Bash when MT defeated Tennessee Tech in five sets. The Blue Raiders have claimed the last four matchups against the Golden Eagles.
Team Notes
- Dora Peonia has led the team attacks on four occasions and has recorded five double-double on the season.
- Urte Neimantaite dished out a career-high 17 kills on two occasions and has one double-double.
- Taylor Hammill is 286 assists away from hitting the 2,000 assists mark. She has also recorded four double-doubles this season.
- Hammill has a season-high 52 assists and 18 digs.
- Bri Tankesley is 142 digs away from the 1,000 digs mark with 858 total. She also recorded a career-high four aces against Alabama A&M.
- Marley Banton has a team-high 16 aces on the season.
- Amalie Jorgensen leads the team in blocks with 29.0.
The Blue Raiders host the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Sunday for their first home game of the season. The match will begin at 1 p.m. at the Alumni Memorial Gym and live stats will be available.
Keep up with Blue Raider Volleyball online: Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball on Facebook, @MT_Volleyball on Twitter and @mt_volleyball on Instagram.
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