Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, November 30
Murfreesboro, TN
6 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Ball State
MTSU welcomes Ball State for the First Round of the NIVC
11/29/2023 5:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will host Ball State on Thursday, November 30 for the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championships at Alumni Memorial Gym. The match is set for 6 p.m. CT. The winner will take on the victor of Clemson and Eastern Kentucky, which will be the first match played on Thursday.
The matches will be live streamed on ESPN+ and have live stats to follow along. General admission for the matches is $5.
This is MTSU's second trip to the NIVC in program history. The Blue Raiders are fourth in the NCAA in hitting percentage at a .305 clip.
Taylor Eisert has totaled 1170 assists this season and is first in Conference USA in assists per set earning 11.1 per set. Eisert is ranked sixth nationally in assists per set.
Kaylee Oscarson has recorded 48 solo blocks while being a Blue Raider. She is just two away from breaking the career record at MTSU in career solo blocks in the 25-point era in just two seasons with the team. Oscarson is third in conference and 13th nationally in hitting percentage hitting at a .411 clip.
Kayla Henley leads the team in kills with 325 earning 3.1 per set. Not too far behind is Adri Rhoda with 322 kills tallying 3.4 per set. Rhoda is third in CUSA in kills per set. Laure Jansen has been outstanding on both sides of the ball this season tallying 261 kills and 261 digs.
Scouting the Ball State Cardinals
Ball State enter the NIVC with a 16-14 record including 13-5 mark in MAC play. The Cardinals fell in the MAC quarterfinals 3-2 against Bowling Green.
On offense, redshirt freshman Aniya Kennedy leads the MAC earning 4.10 kills per set. Fifth-year Marie Pitt has recorded a hitting percentage of .392 which is 26th nationally.
On defense, freshman middle blocker Camryn Wise leads the MAC in blocks per set averaging 1.12 blocks per set.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Scouting the Clemson Tigers
This season Clemson has an overall record of 17-13 and an 8-10 ACC record. MTSU traveled to take on Clemson in the first match of the season with the Tigers coming out on top 3-1.
On offense, freshman Kennedy Wagner has recorded 223 kills tallying 2.23 kills per set. Six attackers have totaled at least 137 kills and averaging at least 1.39 kills per set.
On defense, Adria Powell has totaled 137 total blocks earning 1.3 per set.
Clemson leads the series 0-2.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Eastern Kentucky is 21-8 on the season and 11-5 in the ASUN. EKU is 12th nationally in kills per set at 14.09 and 43rd nationally with a .253 hitting percentage. The Colonels are 38th nationally in digs per set earning 16.16 per set.
On the offensive side of the ball, senior Sarah Mitchell leads the team in kills with 327 tallying 3.2 per set. Senior Chloe Mason has 50 serivce aces earning 0.5 per set.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Josie Schmitendorf has totaled 508 digs averaging 4.9 per set. Sophomore Carson Ledford has tallied 95 total blocks.
EKU leads the series 24-8.
Blue Raider Notes
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
The matches will be live streamed on ESPN+ and have live stats to follow along. General admission for the matches is $5.
This is MTSU's second trip to the NIVC in program history. The Blue Raiders are fourth in the NCAA in hitting percentage at a .305 clip.
Taylor Eisert has totaled 1170 assists this season and is first in Conference USA in assists per set earning 11.1 per set. Eisert is ranked sixth nationally in assists per set.
Kaylee Oscarson has recorded 48 solo blocks while being a Blue Raider. She is just two away from breaking the career record at MTSU in career solo blocks in the 25-point era in just two seasons with the team. Oscarson is third in conference and 13th nationally in hitting percentage hitting at a .411 clip.
Kayla Henley leads the team in kills with 325 earning 3.1 per set. Not too far behind is Adri Rhoda with 322 kills tallying 3.4 per set. Rhoda is third in CUSA in kills per set. Laure Jansen has been outstanding on both sides of the ball this season tallying 261 kills and 261 digs.
Scouting the Ball State Cardinals
Ball State enter the NIVC with a 16-14 record including 13-5 mark in MAC play. The Cardinals fell in the MAC quarterfinals 3-2 against Bowling Green.
On offense, redshirt freshman Aniya Kennedy leads the MAC earning 4.10 kills per set. Fifth-year Marie Pitt has recorded a hitting percentage of .392 which is 26th nationally.
On defense, freshman middle blocker Camryn Wise leads the MAC in blocks per set averaging 1.12 blocks per set.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Scouting the Clemson Tigers
This season Clemson has an overall record of 17-13 and an 8-10 ACC record. MTSU traveled to take on Clemson in the first match of the season with the Tigers coming out on top 3-1.
On offense, freshman Kennedy Wagner has recorded 223 kills tallying 2.23 kills per set. Six attackers have totaled at least 137 kills and averaging at least 1.39 kills per set.
On defense, Adria Powell has totaled 137 total blocks earning 1.3 per set.
Clemson leads the series 0-2.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Eastern Kentucky is 21-8 on the season and 11-5 in the ASUN. EKU is 12th nationally in kills per set at 14.09 and 43rd nationally with a .253 hitting percentage. The Colonels are 38th nationally in digs per set earning 16.16 per set.
On the offensive side of the ball, senior Sarah Mitchell leads the team in kills with 327 tallying 3.2 per set. Senior Chloe Mason has 50 serivce aces earning 0.5 per set.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Josie Schmitendorf has totaled 508 digs averaging 4.9 per set. Sophomore Carson Ledford has tallied 95 total blocks.
EKU leads the series 24-8.
Blue Raider Notes
- The Blue Raiders are fourth in the NCAA in hitting percentage hitting at a .305 clip.
- Oscarson has recorded 48 solo blocks while being a Blue Raider. She is just two away from breaking the career record at MTSU in career solo blocks in the 25-point era in just two seasons with the team. She is third in conference and 13th nationally in hitting percentage hitting at a .411 clip.
- Rhoda is third in CUSA in kills per set. She has earned Offensive Player of the week three times this season. Rhoda eclipsed the 100-career mark in service aces against Jacksonville State. She is up to 103 career service aces. The program record in the 25-point era is 116 held by Marley Banton.
- Eisert broke the program record for career assists in the current 25-point era. The Louisville, Ky. native is the fourth Blue Raider all-time to reach 3,000 career assists. This season, she is a six-time CUSA Setter of the Week. Eisert was tabbed Tennessee Sports Writers Association Volleyball Player of the Week on 9/12. She leads conference in assists per set with 11.1. Eisert is ranked sixth nationally in assists per set.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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