2009 OVC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT - Jacksonville, Ala.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - FIRST ROUNDS
Match 1 - #4 Murray State vs. #5 Tennessee Tech - 4:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Match 2 - #3 Morehead State vs. #6 Eastern Kentucky - 7:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 - SEMIFINALS
Match 3 - #1 Jacksonville State vs. Match 1 Winner - 4:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Match 4 - #2 Austin Peay vs. Match 2 Winner - 7:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 - FINALS
Match 5 - Championship - 7:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
* - OVC Games
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
2009 OVC Players of the Week - November 16
Offensive:
Autumn Harms, MB, Jr., 61
McHenry, Ill. - Eastern Kentucky
Harms helped the Colonels go 4-0 last week by averaging 2.76 kills and 0.94 blocks per set. In 96 attempts she made only 12 errors for a .265 attack percentage. Harms recorded a team-best 18 kills while making only one error, had three blocks, three digs and an assist in the win over Eastern Illinois to clinch a spot in the OVC Tournament. She had five blocks each in wins over Tennessee State and Jacksonville State. She also hit .300 or better in three of EKU's four matches.
Defensive:
Abby O'Connor, L, Jr., 5'4
Maineville, Ohio - Eastern Kentucky
O'Connor averaged 5.82 digs per set last week. In three of EKU's four matches, O'Connor led all players in digs. She had a match-best 24 against Jacksonville State and led all players with 27 against Tennessee Tech. O'Connor helped clinch a spot in the OVC Tournament with a match-high 26 digs against Eastern Illinois on Sunday.
Setter:
Jade Guo, S, So., 5'11
DaTong, Shanxi, China - Murray State
Guo tallied 12.60 assists per set for Murray State last week. She also added 24 digs, seven blocks and 13 kills. Guo recorded just two hitting errors on 32 attempts.
2009 Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Team Notes
Austin Peay (15-3 OVC; 22-8 overall): Austin Peay swept a pair of OVC opponents last week to conclude the regular-season. The Lady Govs defeated UT Martin (25-10, 25-9, 25-10) and Murray State (25-10, 27-25, 25-20). Sophomore Ilyanna Hernandez recorded 16 kills in the two matches. Sophomore Kayla Granthan had 12 kills and had a team-best nine service aces during the week. Senior Stephanie Champine ran her double-digit kills streak to 25 matches with 10 kills against UT Martin and 17 versus Murray Sate. The Lady Govs recorded nine service aces versus UTM and a season-high 15 in the Murray State match. Austin Peay averaged 4.0 aces per set for the week. The Lady Govs tied a program record with 15 OVC victories, matching the mark set by the 1992 OVC Championship team which recorded a 15-1 mark. Austin Peay earned the No. 2 seed in the OVC tourney and will face the winner of the #3 Morehead State/#6 Eastern Kentucky match in the semifinals on Friday.
Eastern Illinois (4-13 OVC; 11-20 overall): Eastern Illinois defeated Southeast Missouri (25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 14-25, 15-13) before falling to SIU Edwardsville (15-25, 21-25, 25-16, 22-25) and Eastern Kentucky (23-25, 13-25, 26-24, 25-22, 8-15). The Panthers concluded the season with a 11-20 overall mark while going 4-13 in the OVC.
Eastern Kentucky ( 9-9 OVC; 10-18 overall): Eastern Kentucky went 4-0 last week to clinch the sixth spot in the upcoming OVC Tournament. The Colonels defeated Tennessee state (23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 26-28, 15-5), Jacksonville State (25-22, 25-16, 25-20), Tennessee Tech (25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 27-25) and Eastern Illinois (25-23, 25-13, 24-26, 22-25, 15-8). The win over the Gamecocks was JSU's first loss in Conference play this season. The match with the Panthers on Sunday was a make -up from early this season. Junior Autumn Harms averaged 2.76 kills and 0.94 blocks during the week. She recorded just 12 errors on 96 attempts for a .365 attack percentage. Junior Abby O'Connor recorded 5.82 digs per set while Junior Katie Handle dished out 10.88 assists each time out. Eastern Kentucky is the sixth seed in the tourney and will face No. 4 Morehead State in first-round action on Thursday.
Jacksonville State (17-1 OVC; 24-5 overall): Jacksonville State suffered it first OVC loss of the season as it fell to Eastern Kentucky (22-25, 16-23, 20-25) before rebounding with a win over Morehead State (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 25-14). The 17 conference wins are the most in a season by any JSU team. Junior Caitlin Vorbeck had a team-best 14 kills on a .435 attack percentage in the win over the Eagles. Sophomore Lauren Harkins picked up 17 digs in each of the Gamecocks matches last week. Junior Brooke Schumacher dished out 63 assists over the two matches, including 43 in the win over Morehead State. JSU earned the top seed and the right to host the OVC Tournament. The Gamecocks also received a first-round by and will face the winner of the #4 Murray State/#5 Tennessee Tech match in the semifinals on Friday.
Morehead State (11-6 OVC; 19-10 overall): Morehead State split a pair of matches last week, defeating Tennessee Tech (18-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-17) and falling to Jacksonville State (21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 14-25). Freshman Annie Gruenschlaeger tallied 10 block assists and 11 total blocks over the weekend to break the school's single-season mark for block assists. She now has 127, bettering the previous record of 122. Gruenschlaeger also led the team with 25 kills and hit .326. Sophomore Emma Keough hit better than .400 this weekend and added 11 total blocks. Morehead State earned the third seed in the upcoming league tournament and will face No. 6 Eastern Kentucky in first round action on Thursday.
Murray State (11-7 OVC; 12-17 overall): Murray State defeated Southeast Missouri (28-30, 33-31, 25-19, 25-19) and Tennessee State (15-18, 25-21, 25-21) before falling to Austin Peay (14-25, 25-27, 20-25) last week. Sophomore Logan Su tallied double-digit kills in all three matches, including a season-best 19 versus Southeast Missouri. Sophomore Kayleah Sauer became the 13th member of the school's 1,000th dig club as she tallied 50 digs over the three matches. Sophomore Jade Guo averaged 12.60 assists per set while helping the team hit .293 for the week. Murray State is making its 20th OVC Tournament appearance as the Racers earned the fourth seed and will face No. 5 Tennessee Tech in the first round on Thursday.
Southeast Missouri (8-10 OVC; 13-17 overall): Southeast Missouri dropped matches to Murray State (30-28, 31-33, 19-25, 19-25) and Eastern Illinois 919-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-14, 13-15). Freshman Emily Maher averaged 3.33 kills and 1.33 digs per set. She recorded 17 kills on a career-high 39 swings versus Eastern Illinois. She also added 11 blocks over the two matches. Senior Sarah Barth dished out 107 assists to go with 2.44 digs and 0.78 blocks per set last week. Amanda Rickhoff recorded her third straight double-double and averaged 2.78 kills and 4.89 digs for the week. The Redhawks failed to make the OVC Tournament for the first time in program history. Southeast Missouri finished the season with a 13-17 overall mark while going 8-10 in league action.
SIU Edwardsville (2-27 overall): SIU Edwardsville fell to UMKC (22-25, 20-25, 19-25) and defeated Eastern Illinois (25-15, 25-21, 16-25, 25-22). Junior Syndey Winslow tallied 20 kills over the two matches, including 16 versus Eastern Illinois. The Cougars finished the season with a 2-27 overall mark.
Tennessee State (3-15 OVC; 4-26 overall): Tennessee State fell to Eastern Kentucky (25-23, 21-25, 18-25, 28-26, 5-15) and Murray State (18-25, 21-25, 21-25) before defeating UT Martin 925-22, 25-14, 25-19) to conclude the 2009 campaign. Sophomore Shaquita Williams led the team with 39 points last week. She recorded 31 kills, 5 service aces and three blocks. Sophomore Terakka Walker recorded 44 digs over the two matches, including a career-high 31 digs against EKU. Senior Yamar Padilla-Callazo dished out 118 assists to go with 10 kills over the three matches. Tennessee State concluded the regular-season with a 4-26 overall mark while going 3-15 in the OVC.
Tennessee Tech (9-9 OVC; 10-17 overall): Tennessee Tech fell to Morehead state (17-25, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 25-27) and Eastern Kentucky (25-18, 11-25, 15-25, 15-25, 17-25). Senior Amanda Lindgren posted 12 kills and five digs versus Morehead State and followed that up with eight kills and seven digs against Eastern Kentucky. Senior Katie Kenline tallied 23 digs over the two matches, including a team-high 16 against EKU. Tech earned the fifth seed in the upcoming tournament and will face No. 4 Murray State in the first round on Thursday.
UT Martin (2-16 OVC; 8-21 overall): UT Martin fell to Austin Peay (10-25, 9-25, 10-25) and Tennessee State (22-25, 14-25, 19-25). Junior Jenna Kragt led the UT Martin offense with 12 kills on 25 attempts. Freshman Kasey Elswick recorded 21 digs over the two matches while freshman Kelly Hogan dished out 41 assists. UT Martin concluded the season with a 8-21 record while going 2-16 in OVC play.
OVC News and Notes
OVCSPORTS.TV: All home matches for Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin will be available on OVCSports.TV. Other select matches will also be web streamed throughout the season. Volleyball packages are available for $24.95 which includes all matches that are streamed and the OVC Championship. For more information and to sign up visit www.ovcsports.com.