MTSU set to face Clemson and Wofford

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee volleyball team will begin its 2023 season with the Big Orange Bash in Clemson, S.C. The Blue Raiders will face Clemson at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 25 on ACC Network Extra. On Saturday, Aug. 26, MTSU will take on Wofford at 1 p.m. CT.

The Blue Raiders started last season with their best start through 10 matches since 2008 in which the team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. MTSU earned their first power-5 win since 2014 by defeating undefeated Boston College. The Blue Raiders return all but one starter from last year's squad. Among the returners are CUSA Preseason All-Conference members in Kayla Henley and Adri Rhoda.

Scouting the Clemson Tigers
Clemson is coming off a tough season in 2022 winning 13 of the 25 matches. This year's team is mixed with veterans and youth. The Tigers bring back eight players from last season and add seven freshmen to the mix. Clemson also hit the transfer portal and added four players from Power-5 schools.

On offense, the Tiger lose quite a bit on the offensive side of the ball but they do return sophomore Mia McGrath, who totaled 212 kills in 2022, and tied for second on the team for service aces as a freshman. Graduate student Mckenna Slavik picked up 1102 assists, which is good for most on the team by a landslide last year, and earned 10.30 assists per set. Slavik was named Second-Team All-ACC in 2022 and was tabbed preseason All-ACC this season.

On defense, Clemson returns their leading dig artist in Devan Taylor with 489 digs and 4.01 digs per set last season.

This is only the second meeting between MTSU and Clemson. The first meeting was in 1991 and the Tigers won 3-0.

Scouting the Wofford Terriers
In 2022, Wofford won 16 matches and picked up eight conference victories. The Terriers bring back 13 players from last year's squad and welcome six freshman.

Crucial on both sides of the ball, the Terriers return senior Sarah Barham. Barham was second in the SoCon last season with a .333 hitting percentage and also earned 251 kills. On the defensive side, Barham tallied 1.11 blocks per set and a total of 123 blocks in 2022. She is joined by fellow senior Millie Loehr who set the program's single-season record with a .391 clip. Senior Abby Richman led the team last season with 389 digs and 3.81 digs per set.

This will be the third meeting between MTSU and Wofford. The series is tied 1-1.

Quick Facts

The Blue Raiders return 10 players from last season including six starters. MTSU added two transfers in Laure Jansen and Erin Eisenhart as well as three freshmen in Allyson Eckel, Allison Bedrick and Patrycja Labucka.
Kayla Henley and Adri Rhoda were named to the preseason CUSA All-Conference team.
Rhoda has 67 service aces needing 33 more to reach 100 career service aces. The program record is 116 held by Marley Banton.
Eisenhart sits at 997 career digs needing just three more digs to reach 1000.
Taylor Eisert ranks third with 2,353 career assists, needing 519 more assists to tie the current 25-point era program record for assists in a career at 2,872.

Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).

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Players Mentioned

Marley Banton

Allison Bedrick

Allyson Eckel

Erin Eisenhart

Taylor Eisert

Kayla Henley

Laure Jansen

Patrycja Labucka

Adriana Rhoda

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics