LIVE STATS (UT - MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS) | LIVE STATS (BUTLER) | LIVE STATS (UC) | LIVE VIDEO (UC) | MSU MATCH NOTES (PDF) | MSU ON TWITTER (OFFICIAL | VOLLEYBALL)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State volleyball team opens its 2013 campaign with a trio of matches in the University of Cincinnati Invitational this weekend. The Eagles face Tennessee and Butler Friday and the host school Saturday.
MSU kicks off the ledger at 10:30 a.m. ET on Friday against the UT Lady Vols. Following a short break, the Eagles battle Butler at 5 p.m. The team tangles with UC on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Live stats are available for all three matches via MSUEagles.com, and live video of the Cincinnati match is also available. Updates will also be available throughout the tournament via MSU's official twitter @MSUAthletics.
Here are notes heading into the weekend:
Talon Tidbits
Morehead State embarks on its 42nd collegiate season this weekend with 880 wins as a program ... MSU's all-time Ohio Valley Conference record is 313-147 (.679), which is the best in league history ... Head Coach Jaime Gordon is a three-time OVC Coach of the Year (2003, 2010, 2012) and was the American Volleyball Coaches Association Midwest Region Coach of the Year last season ... MSU owned the nation's longest winning streak at 24 matches in 2012 ... Morehead State has seven consecutive 20-win campaigns ... The Eagles were picked to finish second in the league's East Division in a vote by head coaches and sports information personnel.
Title Town
In 2012, Morehead State became just the second program in league history to win three straight championships. Southeast Missouri owns the best streak at five, and the MSU teams in 1988, 1989 and 1990 ran off three consecutive titles as well. MSU has now won 11 league titles.
Tough to Beat
MSU has won 52 of its last 54 OVC matches in the past three seasons and possesses a 22-match overall league winning streak. The Eagles have won 23 consecutive OVC road matches since 2010.
Staying Power
Morehead State has led the OVC in hitting percentage defense for the past three seasons. Last year, opponents hit at just a .135 clip. The Eagles have also paced all OVC teams in kills the past three years.
An Ace in the Hole
Senior outside hitter Aryn Bohannon needs just 24 service aces to move into the MSU career top ten. Bohannon led the OVC with 44 solo winners last year and has 135 for her career. She is also the top returning offensive player for the Eagles, with 363 kills in 2012.
Digging It
Senior libero Leslie Schellhaas owns the top two season dig totals in program history, scooping a school-record 641 balls as a sophomore in 2011 and 619 last year as a junior. She enters the year with 1,547 career digs.
A Tall Order
At 6-foot-5, junior Alex Fitzmorris is the tallest player in program history, topping a couple of former players who were 6-foot-4. Fitzmorris, a transfer from Boston College, sat out last season as a redshirt. The right side hitter began her career at Arkansas.
No Longer the Young Ones
Sophomores Courtney Smith and Hannah Sigala each contributed to the success in 2012. An outside hitter, Smith finished with 211 kills. Sigala, a middle blocker, recorded 66 total blocks.
Set it and (Don't) Forget it
Junior setter Colbey Cameron played a dual role in 2012, as a setter and back row defender. She recorded nine matches with double-digit assists and also compiled 210 digs.
She's Consistent
Senior defensive specialist Lindsey Roth has compiled 232 digs two straight years. The Louisville, Ky., native has more than 500 digs for her career. Roth also ranked second on the team with 37 service aces last season.
National Team Experience
Morehead State has added a former Team USA member to its coaching staff. Marcie West, a former All-American at Florida and member of Team USA, has joined the staff as a volunteer assistant. She is married to Morehead State Assistant Football Coach Rod West.
Eagle Adventures
Two members of the 2013 team, junior middle blocker Laura McDermott and senior libero Leslie Schellhaas, experienced unique opportunities in the off-season. McDermott travelled to China to help MSU professor Kimberely Nettleton deliver lectures on American culture at Guanxi University. Schellhaas spent several days at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs participating in the US Women's National Team tryouts.
The Newbies
MSU added a quartet of players for this season. Setter Bailey Nichol, outside hitter Hope Rillema, middle blocker Sydney Schuler and defensive specialist Stacy Silver are the freshmen in 2012. Morehead State also added former Oakland (Mich.) head coach Ed Tolentino to the staff this year. He has coaching experience at Georgia Tech, Michigan, Michigan State and Eastern Michigan. He joins third-year assistant coach Kyrsten Becker and second-year operations manager Alex DelPiombo. Markie Owens joined the program as a manager this year, and Brittany Lemons is the team's new athletic training graduate assistant.
