Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, April 1
Hattiesburg, MS
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Rice
Blue Raiders Open C-USA Tournament Against No. 24 Rice
3/31/2021 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Having secured the four seed in the East Division at the C-USA Tournament, the Middle Tennessee volleyball team will open competition at the tournament in the quarterfinal round on Thursday evening. The Blue Raiders will play the West one seed No. 24 Rice on Thursday at 5 pm CT.
Match 16: Middle Tennessee (5-10, 4-8) vs. No. 24 Rice (14-4, 12-0)
- Thursday, Apr. 1, 2021 – 5:00 pm CT
- USM Wellness Center – Hattiesburg, Miss.
About the Blue Raiders
- The Blue Raiders have clinched a berth in the C-USA Tournament for the second straight season. It is the first time since 2013 that the Blue Raiders have clinched a spot in a conference tournament in consecutive seasons.
- Middle Tennessee owns a 29-36 all-time mark in conference tournaments that spans the school's tenure in three different conferences: the Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, and C-USA.
- Junior Samira Lawson Body was named to the Conference USA Volleyball All-Academic Team. Lawson Body's selection marks the third consecutive year a Middle Tennessee player has received the honor.
- Marley Banton averages 0.53 aces per set for the Blue Raiders. She ranks 20th nationally and third in C-USA in aces per set. She also ranks first in C-USA and 20th nationally in service aces with 29.
- Taylor Eisert currently ranks 10th all-time in assists per set (9.52) in a single season in program history.
All-Time vs. Rice
- Middle Tennessee and Rice meet for the 10th time, with the Owls owning a 7-2 advantage.
- The Blue Raiders have lost the last five matchups and last beat the Owls on Oct. 11, 2015, in a 3-2 win on the road.
- This will be the first meeting between Middle Tennessee and Rice in the C-USA Tournament.
Scouting the Owls
- Rice is 14-4 overall and 12-0 in C-USA under veteran HC Genny Volpe.
- The Owls have had an historic past week as they took the No. 6 Baylor to five sets and upset the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in five sets.
- The Owls have only dropped five sets in C-USA play.
- Rice ranks 39th nationally in hitting percentage with a .254 clip and 57th in opponent hitting percentage, limiting opponents to a .159 clip.
- Nicole Lennon leads the Owls offense, averaging 4.99 points per set and 4.21 kills per set. She ranks 39th nationally in kills per set.
- Carly Graham has played every set as a setter for the Owls. She leads the team with 681 assists and averages 10.10 for 60th-best in the country.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball)
Match 16: Middle Tennessee (5-10, 4-8) vs. No. 24 Rice (14-4, 12-0)
- Thursday, Apr. 1, 2021 – 5:00 pm CT
- USM Wellness Center – Hattiesburg, Miss.
About the Blue Raiders
- The Blue Raiders have clinched a berth in the C-USA Tournament for the second straight season. It is the first time since 2013 that the Blue Raiders have clinched a spot in a conference tournament in consecutive seasons.
- Middle Tennessee owns a 29-36 all-time mark in conference tournaments that spans the school's tenure in three different conferences: the Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, and C-USA.
- Junior Samira Lawson Body was named to the Conference USA Volleyball All-Academic Team. Lawson Body's selection marks the third consecutive year a Middle Tennessee player has received the honor.
- Marley Banton averages 0.53 aces per set for the Blue Raiders. She ranks 20th nationally and third in C-USA in aces per set. She also ranks first in C-USA and 20th nationally in service aces with 29.
- Taylor Eisert currently ranks 10th all-time in assists per set (9.52) in a single season in program history.
All-Time vs. Rice
- Middle Tennessee and Rice meet for the 10th time, with the Owls owning a 7-2 advantage.
- The Blue Raiders have lost the last five matchups and last beat the Owls on Oct. 11, 2015, in a 3-2 win on the road.
- This will be the first meeting between Middle Tennessee and Rice in the C-USA Tournament.
Scouting the Owls
- Rice is 14-4 overall and 12-0 in C-USA under veteran HC Genny Volpe.
- The Owls have had an historic past week as they took the No. 6 Baylor to five sets and upset the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in five sets.
- The Owls have only dropped five sets in C-USA play.
- Rice ranks 39th nationally in hitting percentage with a .254 clip and 57th in opponent hitting percentage, limiting opponents to a .159 clip.
- Nicole Lennon leads the Owls offense, averaging 4.99 points per set and 4.21 kills per set. She ranks 39th nationally in kills per set.
- Carly Graham has played every set as a setter for the Owls. She leads the team with 681 assists and averages 10.10 for 60th-best in the country.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball)
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
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