Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: C-USA action tips off this week at the Murphy Center
11/14/2022 5:16:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
Both teams enter the C-USA opener 1-1, with home wins and road losses to start the year. The Blue Raiders enter Tuesday night's game the winners of 18 straight in the Glass House. That night is MTSU's "Sweet Steal" promotional game, with a Sweet Station on the Concourse level and foam 3-pointer hands to be given away.
Picked seventh in the C-USA preseason poll, Rice enters Tuesday's matchup with a proclivity for the three-point shot, along with a reputation for staying out of foul trouble. Head Coach Nick McDevitt said his team will need to be vigilant on the perimeter to be successful on the defense end against the Owls.
It's the last home game for the Blue Raiders until after Thanksgiving, so come on out and help MTSU get off to a winning start in C-USA!
With our Sweet Steal promotion coming up for Tuesday's game vs. Rice, we thought we'd ask the guys what their favorite candy is!#BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/eX5jV07k7R
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) November 13, 2022
Women's Basketball also returns home this week
After splitting games to open their non-conference slate, the Lady Raiders return home on Wednesday for a hotly anticipated mid-state battle against Belmont. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Bruins, preseason favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference, battled No. 7 Louisville to the wire on Sunday and will pose a significant challenge to the Lady Raiders, who returned home over the weekend victorious over reigning MVC regular season champion Southern Illinois, trouncing the Salukis 90-38 on Saturday.
Check out some of the radio row breakdown after the big win, as well as highlights from Carbondale, Ill. And be sure to come out on Wednesday night to help the Lady Raiders start the regular season in the Glass House with a W!
Hear from @Alexisw_23 after tonight's win!#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/UjrF7T3Pvm
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 13, 2022
.@CoachInsell breaks down the talent on the defensive side of the ball. #BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/X2lo71rEeS
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 13, 2022
An impressive performance on the road last night! #BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/BlOOGmdp2A
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 13, 2022
Senior Day on tap against FAU for MTSU Football
After picking up their fifth win of the season on Saturday against Charlotte, MTSU football once again returns to the frigid turf of Floyd Stadium this week, taking on Florida Atlantic in the team's home finale for the season.
The final home game also means that it is Senior Day for many Blue Raiders not only on the football team, but in the band, the cheerleading team and so many other student organizations that share their time with us to make Saturdays in Murfreesboro special. On the football side, 12 seniors are expected to be honored for their contributions to the Blue Raider program, including four of the team's five captains.
"To me, all of them have had a very, very positive impact on this program," Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "All of them, to me, have matured and have graduated or will graduate this spring or this fall. And they're prepared, they're ready to take on this real world, outside of football.
"I love every one of them. I appreciate every one of them. I'm so thankful for every one of them for what they've given and sacrificed for this program. They mean the world to me. I'm just proud of them and the journey that they've embarked on."
On the field, the Owls come to town, like MTSU, looking for that elusive sixth win of the season to make their program bowl eligible. Unlike the Blue Raiders, however, the Owls have had plenty of success in C-USA this season, mirroring MTSU's 2-4 record in C-USA play with a 4-2 C-USA record of their own. FAU is coming off a resounding win in the final Shula Bowl that will be a conference game for quite some time, defeating FIU 52-7.
"They're a really good football team," Stockstill said. "They're always super talented from a skill set. They've got a lot of speed on both sides of the ball."
Saturday also marks the return to the Floyd Stadium press box of Brent Dearmon, the former Blue Raider offensive coordinator who left MTSU this offseason to take the same job with the FAU program. Defensive end Jordan Ferguson said he saw some similarities on tape from practices last year, but the sixth-year senior took the time to thank his former coach for making his dream come true last season.
"I want to shoutout Coach Dearmon and thank Coach Dearmon for giving me the opportunity to play offense in college," Ferguson said. "Me and the other guys, Marley and Zaylin, we really enjoyed that."
Volleyball heads to C-USA Tournament
After a hard-fought match to C-USA power Rice on Sunday, the Blue Raiders got great news at the end of the day, hearing that they had made the Conference USA tournament for the fourth straight season.
We're headin' to Bowling Green! 🙌#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/t00n30YMNi
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) November 13, 2022
The No. 8 seed Blue Raiders will take on the top-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Friday in Bowling Green, Ky. at Noon CT.
Their effort and hustle got recognition from the NCAA Volleyball account this weekend. Check out this highlight of the back row's hustle off the carom, followed up with a dominant block at the net.
Showing off some HUSTLE 😤#NCAAWVB x 🎥 @MT_Volleyball pic.twitter.com/C7XJpKaVNf
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) November 12, 2022
Kimaiyo earns All-Region Honors in Cross Country
Down in Huntsville, Ala. this weekend, Hillary Kimaiyo continued his stellar Blue Raider career, earning All-Region honors in Men's Cross Country while finishing 13th in the South Regional with a PR of 29:56.4.
Hillary Kimaiyo was named USTFCCCA All-Region this past weekend for his top-25 finish at the NCAA South Regional! 👏
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) November 14, 2022
The senior led the way for the Blue Raiders with a personal-best time of 29:56.4 in the 10K, earning him 13th place.#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/GnLClfbWIB
The women's raced to ninth-place in the meet on Friday, with Agnes Chepkurui leading the way for the Blue Raiders.
The women finished in ninth this morning, ahead of six other top-15 teams in the NCAA South Region.
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) November 11, 2022
📊: https://t.co/QRKfmiHutM#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/YbQMZi9wlL
Relive Signing Day for a Plethora of Future Blue Raiders!
The Blue Raiders added three to the family on #NationalSigningDay yesterday. The group includes two middles and a defensive specialist.
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) November 10, 2022
Full details ⤵️https://t.co/AJz6VwihHf
Focused on the future this week! #BlueRaiders⚾️https://t.co/Jo5E6zcSTD
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) November 11, 2022
Highlight 🧵 of today's signee: Jada Harrison pic.twitter.com/tqM1Nslexw
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 9, 2022
Players Mentioned
