GAMEDAY CENTRAL
NAIA No. 14 Embry-Riddle (11-5) vs. NCAA II RV Florida Southern (10-4)
DATE: Friday, Oct. 4, 2013
CITY: Lakeland, Fla.
SITE:Â Jenkins Field House
MATCH TIME: 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Blue and Gold are ranked 14th in the third regular season coaches' poll after being ranked 15th in last week's poll. The Eagles reached the NAIA National Tournament Final Site for the third consecutive season in 2012. Head Coach Josylnn Gallop is the winningest coach in program history, owning a 212-77 career record in this, her ninth season at the helm of the Eagles.
ABOUT FLORIDA SOUTHERN
Florida Southern hails from Lakeland, Fla. and is a member of the Sunshine State Conference in NCAA Division II. Jill Stephens is in her 13th season at the helm of the FSC program and owns a 272-136 record with the Mocs. In 2012, FSC finished 22-12 overall and 11-5 in league action, finishing third in the regular season conference standings and qualifying for the NCAA II South Regional Tournament, where they lost to No. 7 Tampa in the semifinals.
The Mocs are among the best in NCAA II in digs/set (19.04, 7th), assists/set (12.66, 19th), and kills/set (13.66, 20th). Kendall Marotti runs the offense for Florida Southern, averaging 10.45 assists/set, which ranks her 35th in NCAA II. Catherine Brusie anchors the defense with 4.52 digs/set, placing her fourth in the Sunshine State Conference; Kate Stromberg (3.76, 7th) and Brindl Langley (3.24, 10th) also rank in the top 10 in the SSC that category. FSC has a balanced offensive attack with four players that have between 115 and 129 kills; leading the way is Kayshia Brady, who has 129 kills, followed by Langley (121), Stromberg (119) and Gabby Fernandez (115).
STREAKING IN THE POLLS
When the NAIA released the fourth coaches' poll of the 2013 regular season on Sept. 24, the Eagles found themselves at No. 14 in the rankings for the second straight week. Embry-Riddle spent the entire 2011 season and all but one week in 2012 ranked in the top 10, a total of 24 weeks, including a trio of weeks at No. 2 (Sept. 20 - Oct. 4, 2011). In total, the Eagles have been ranked in the Top 25 for 42 polls, the fifth-longest active streak in the NAIA.
BLUE AND GOLD AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
The Eagles have shown early in 2013 that they are among the best in the NAIA in four of the most important facets of the game: assists, kills, digs and service aces. Embry-Riddle is currently averaging 12.10 assists/set, the 17th-best average in the country. With 13.12 kills/set, ERAU ranks 21st in the NAIA. Ranking 40th in the nation, the Eagles have picked up 16.84 digs/set, and the Blue and Gold are listed 43rd in service aces/set with an average of 1.79.
GRAY DOMINANT DEFENSIVELY
Junior libero
Hannah Gray has proven that she is one of the best defensive players in the country with her stellar play this season. Gray, last year's Sun Conference Libero of the Year, is currently averaging 6.64 digs/set, the second-highest average in the nation. Her 388 digs are also the 21st-highest total in the NAIA.
FERREIRA DOING IT ALL
Sophomore setter
Tamires Ferreira is out to prove that setters can do more than just rack up assists. She has done a great job circulating the ball while running the 5-1 offense for the Eagles, recording 568 assists at an average of 9.96 assists/set, which ranks her 25th in the nation in that category. But she has also collected a team-leading 35 service aces, the 32nd-best total in the nation, in addition to picking up 151 digs, second-best on the team. Ferreira has also proven to be an offensive threat herself, putting down 92 kills, including a match-high 16 kills at Flagler on Sept. 11. The Barbacena, Brazil native also has 31 blocks (one solo) on the season, ranking third on the Eagle squad.
MILESTONE CHASE
At least one Eagle is in the hunt for a career milestone and a program record during the 2013 season.
Emily Jacobson stands at 330 career blocks, 31 behind Susan Delahanty's 361 program record number. Jacobson has averaged 88.3 blocks per season since stepping on ERAU's campus.
REPLACING THE BEST CLASS IN EAGLE HISTORY
Following the 2012 season, Gallop lost four seniors that were arguably the best class in program history.
Jordan Holcomb and
Taylor Martin (now volunteer assistant coaches for the Eagles) rank No. 3 and No. 4 respectively on the all-time kills list (1,000-Kill Club), while
Adriana Vazquez shattered the career assist mark (5,035) while collecting four straight Sun Conference Setter of the Year honors (1,000-Assist Club). Glorida Kemp also graduated after compiling 672 kills, a .276 attack percentage and 237 blocks in her four-year career.
PRESEASON FAVORITES
The Sun Conference coaches selected the Eagles to top the league's preseason poll, released in August. Embry-Riddle garnered six first-place votes and 48 total points to claim the No. 1 spot in the poll, while St. Thomas came in second with two first-place votes and 43 total points.
19 SEASONS OF EAGLE VOLLEYBALL
The 2013 season marks the 19th edition of Eagle volleyball. Embry-Riddle is 416-231 all-time, capturing five regular season titles, four conference tournament titles and making three appearances at the NAIA National Championship.
