GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 19 Embry-Riddle (16-9) at Coastal Georgia (23-9)
DATE: Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013
CITY: Brunswick, Ga.
SITE:Â Howard Coffin Gym
MATCH TIME: 6 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Blue and Gold are ranked 19th in the eighth regular season coaches' poll after being ranked 10th 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 217-81 career record in this, her ninth season at the helm of the Eagles.
ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA
Coastal Georgia hails from Brunswick, Ga. and is a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference. Jeff Huebner is in his third season at the helm of the CCG program and owns a 53-45 record with the Mariners. Huebner is the only coach in program history as the Mariners first began intercollegiate competition in 2011. In 2012, CCG finished 15-19 overall and 5-9 in league action, finishing ninth in the regular season conference standings.
The Mariners are among the best in NAIA in service aces (235, 10th) and hitting percentage (.248, 19th). Cayley Meiners ranks in the top 50 in service aces (48, 43rd) and assists (944, 48th). Kara Neisen leads the team with 353 kills while Kansas Robison paces the Mariners with 383 digs.
STREAKING IN THE POLLS
When the NAIA released the eighth coaches' poll of the 2013 regular season last Tuesday, the Eagles found themselves at No. 19 in the rankings, a nine-spot drop from the team's previous ranking of No. 10. Embry-Riddle spent the entire 2011 season and all but one week in 2012 ranked in the top 10, a total of 25 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 46 consecutive 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 three of the most important facets of the game: kills, digs and assists. Embry-Riddle is currently averaging 11.95 assists/set, the 24th-best average in the country. With 12.93 kills/set, ERAU ranks 32nd in the NAIA. Ranking 38th in the nation, the Eagles have picked up 16.95 digs/set.
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 6.41 digs/set, the second-highest average in the nation. Her 558 digs are also the 29th-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 835 assists for an average of 9.94 assists/set, which ranks her 28th in the nation in that category. But she has also collected a team-leading 44 service aces in addition to picking up 233 digs, second-best on the team. Ferreira has also proven to be an offensive threat herself, putting down 131 kills, including a match-high 16 kills at Flagler on Sept. 11. The Barbacena, Brazil native also has 45 blocks (three 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 350 career blocks, 11 behind Susan Delahanty's 361 program record number. Jacobson has averaged 87.5 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 421-235 all-time, capturing five regular season titles, four conference tournament titles and making three appearances at the NAIA National Championship.
