Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, September 7
Auburn, AL
6 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
#25 Auburn
Photo by: Andrew Glover/MTSU Athletic Communications
MTSU hits the Road for Three Matches in Auburn
9/6/2023 1:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee volleyball team is traveling to Auburn, Ala. to compete in the Tiger Invitational. The first match will be against the host, Auburn, on September 7 at 6 p.m. CT. The next day on September 8, MTSU will face Mercer at 3:30 p.m. CT. On the final day on September 9, the Blue Raiders will take on Charleston Southern at 11 a.m. CT.
MTSU is coming off a weekend in which they won two out of three matches at the Fryfest Invitational and earned a second-place finish in the tournament. Senior Taylor Eisert and graduate student Kayla Henley were tabbed to the Fryfest Invitational All-Tournament team.
Scouting the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers (5-0, 0-0 SEC) is off to an undefeated start to the 2023 season. In the last match, the Tigers defeated Florida State 3-1. Last season, Auburn finished 22-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers bring back everyone from last year and added four transfer transfers as well as two freshmen.
On offense, sophomore Akasha Anderson leads the team with 67 kills earning 3.7 per set on a .263 hitting percentage. Senioir Jackie Barrett has racked up 125 assists tallying 9.6 per set. A senior transfer from Kentucky, Bella Bell is second on the team in kills with 57 on a .436 hitting percentage.
On defense, sophomore Sarah Morton has 57 digs averaging 3.2 per set.
This is the fifth meeting between the two programs. Auburn leads 3-1.
Scouting the Mercer Bears
Mercer (2-4, 0-0 SoCon) has picked up wins against Mississippi Valley State and Idaho State so far this season. Last year, the Bears completed the season going 10-19. Mercer has a balance of returners and newcomers this season. They bring back seven players from last season and add five transfers as well as six freshmen.
On offense, a graduate student transfer from Jacksonville State, Kylee Quigley, leads the team in kills with 56 recording 2.8 per set on a .260 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kiera McCarley has tallied 94 assists.
On defense, sophomore Abbey Havrilla has 73 digs so far this season earning 3.7 per set.
MTSU leads the series 2-0. The last meeting between the two programs was in 2000.
Scouting the Charleston Southern Bucs
Charleston Southern (5-2, 0-0 Big South) is off to a nice start to the 2023 season. Last season, the Bucs finished 15-16. Charleston Southern return eight players from last year. The Bucs added three transfers and five freshmen.
On offense, a transfer from Auburn at Montgomery, Giada Pais-Marden, leads the Bucs in kills tallying 70 averaging 3.2 per set on a .268 hitting percentage. Ilaria Durante has earned 198 assists tallying 7.6 per set.
On defense, senior Angelika Rusin has recorded 113 digs averaging 4.5 per set.
This will be the second meeting between MTSU and Charleston Southern. CSU won the first meeting back in 2018.
Blue Raider Notes
Keep Up with the Blue Raider Volleyball Team
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
MTSU is coming off a weekend in which they won two out of three matches at the Fryfest Invitational and earned a second-place finish in the tournament. Senior Taylor Eisert and graduate student Kayla Henley were tabbed to the Fryfest Invitational All-Tournament team.
Scouting the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers (5-0, 0-0 SEC) is off to an undefeated start to the 2023 season. In the last match, the Tigers defeated Florida State 3-1. Last season, Auburn finished 22-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers bring back everyone from last year and added four transfer transfers as well as two freshmen.
On offense, sophomore Akasha Anderson leads the team with 67 kills earning 3.7 per set on a .263 hitting percentage. Senioir Jackie Barrett has racked up 125 assists tallying 9.6 per set. A senior transfer from Kentucky, Bella Bell is second on the team in kills with 57 on a .436 hitting percentage.
On defense, sophomore Sarah Morton has 57 digs averaging 3.2 per set.
This is the fifth meeting between the two programs. Auburn leads 3-1.
Scouting the Mercer Bears
Mercer (2-4, 0-0 SoCon) has picked up wins against Mississippi Valley State and Idaho State so far this season. Last year, the Bears completed the season going 10-19. Mercer has a balance of returners and newcomers this season. They bring back seven players from last season and add five transfers as well as six freshmen.
On offense, a graduate student transfer from Jacksonville State, Kylee Quigley, leads the team in kills with 56 recording 2.8 per set on a .260 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kiera McCarley has tallied 94 assists.
On defense, sophomore Abbey Havrilla has 73 digs so far this season earning 3.7 per set.
MTSU leads the series 2-0. The last meeting between the two programs was in 2000.
Scouting the Charleston Southern Bucs
Charleston Southern (5-2, 0-0 Big South) is off to a nice start to the 2023 season. Last season, the Bucs finished 15-16. Charleston Southern return eight players from last year. The Bucs added three transfers and five freshmen.
On offense, a transfer from Auburn at Montgomery, Giada Pais-Marden, leads the Bucs in kills tallying 70 averaging 3.2 per set on a .268 hitting percentage. Ilaria Durante has earned 198 assists tallying 7.6 per set.
On defense, senior Angelika Rusin has recorded 113 digs averaging 4.5 per set.
This will be the second meeting between MTSU and Charleston Southern. CSU won the first meeting back in 2018.
Blue Raider Notes
- Eisert and Henley earned Fryfest Invitational All-Tournament team. Henley recorded 45 points and 35 kills. Henley averaged 3.89 kills per set while hitting a .469 hititng percentage. Eisert tallied 113 assists tallying 12.6 assists per set. Eisert tied the NCAA record for most assists per set in a mtach with 15.33 against Kent State. Eisert was named Conference USA Setter of the Week.
- Eisert ranks third with 2,469 career assists, needing 403 more assists to tie the current 25-point era program record for assists in a career at 2,872.
- Rhoda has 80 service aces needing 20 more to reach 100 career service aces. The program record is 116 held by Marley Banton.
Keep Up with the Blue Raider Volleyball Team
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
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/ Women's Volleyball
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