MTSU Hosts LA Tech for Two-Match Series

Thursday, October 24

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6 PM

Middle Tennessee

LA Tech

10/23/2024 12:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Blue Raiders look to get over .500 in CUSA play

By: Jake Freelund, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee volleyball (9-13, 5-5) is hosting the LA Tech Bulldogs for a two-match series on Oct. 24 and 25. The Blue Raiders will look to build on their recent success, having won three of their last four matches. The upcoming two matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at statbroadcast.com.

In her senior season, Laure Jansen has found a new kind of success while making the transition from outside hitter to Libero. Jansen leads all of Conference USA in digs with 379 and ranks 15th in the nation in that statistic. The Valburg, Netherlands native took home CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors for her performances at Sam Houston where she set an all-time program record of 39 digs and 9.75 digs/set on Sept. 26. Jansen also ranks sixth in CUSA with 30 service aces.

Junior Adriana Rhoda is also having a terrific season leading the conference in total kills and kills/set with 324 and 3.90, respectively. On Sept. 27 at Sam Houston, Rhoda set a new program record, during the 25-point era, for kills/set in a single match with 7.33. Rhoda is inching closer to breaking the program record for service aces, during the 25-point era, of 116. The outside hitter is currently at 112 aces needing five more to break the record. Rhoda is also close to the 1000 career kill mark needing just 22 more to reach that feat.

Setter Andi Spies has found success in her freshman season taking home three CUSA Freshman of the Week's. On the season, Spies ranks second in CUSA in assists/set with 9.20. The Fort Atkinson, Wis. native also ranks third in the conference in service aces with 32. Spies is one of two CUSA student-athletes to record a triple-double this season doing so on Sept. 6 in a win vs. SEMO.

Scouting LA Tech
The Blue Raiders and Bulldogs have faced off fourteen times in their program's histories, with MTSU stealing 12 of those matchups. Last season, the Blue Raiders won both matches by a score of 3-0. The Bulldogs (6-17, 0-10) are coming off two loses at Western Kentucky and are searching for their first CUSA win this season.

LA Tech is led by head coach Amber McCray, who is in her sixth season at the helm. In 2023, the Bulldogs qualified for the CUSA Tournament for the first time since joining the conference in 2013.

The Bulldogs are led by Giulia Bonifacio who has recorded a team-high 165 kills. LA Tech runs a two-setter system featuring Meghan Scharpenberg and Lauren Albrecht, both of whom have over 250 assists. Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by Riley Steubing who has recorded a team-high 250 digs.

Quick Facts

Freshman Andi Spies recorded the first triple-double in program history, during the 25-point era, earning her CUSA Freshman of the Week (Sept. 9). Spies received two more CUSA Freshman of the Week's (Sept. 16, Oct. 7) making her the second student-athlete to win multiple in the same season (Adriana Rhoda).
Senior Laure Jansen took home CUSA Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30) after her record-setting performance at Sam Houston on Sept. 26 where she set an all-time program-record with 39 digs in a single match.
On Sept. 17 vs. UVA, Laure Jansen reached the historic milestones of 100 career service aces and 1000 career digs, doing so on the same night.
On Sept. 27 at Sam Houston, Adriana Rhoda set a new program record, during the 25-point era, for kills/set in a single match with 7.33.
Freshman Emma Nilson recorded the highest single-game blocks/set ratio for a freshman in program history, during the 25-point era, vs. Arkansas State, recording 3.0 blocks/set.

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