GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#10 Embry-Riddle (0-0) v. Milligan (0-0)
DATE: Friday, Sept. 23, 2013
CITY: Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE: ICI Center
TIP-OFF: 6 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE AUDIO: Stretch Internet
LIVE VIDEO: Stretch Internet
CURRENT STREAKs: ERAU: W1 - MC: L1 (dating back to the 2012 season)
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 5 MATCHES: 3-2
EMBRY-RIDDLE'S LAST 10 MATCHES: 8-2
EMBRY-RIDDLE AT HOME IN 2012: 14-2
MILLIGAN ON THE ROAD IN 2012: 8-8
AT A GLANCE
The Embry-Riddle Eagles open up the 2013 season on Friday against the Milligan Buffaloes, marking the beginning of the 19th season in program history and ninth under the direction of the Eagles' all-time winningest coach,
Joslynn Gallop. The Blue and Gold will be looking for its sixth consecutive Sun Conference regular season title and fourth straight trip to Sioux City, Iowa for the NAIA National Championship.
ABOUT MILLIGAN
MIlligan is an NAIA program that hails from Elizabethtown, Tenn. and the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Doneva Bays is set to begin her fifth season at the helm of the Milligan program after a 57-54 record over her first four years with the Buffaloes. In 2012, MC finished 20-14 overall and 13-5 in league action, tying for second in the conference before suffering a first-round loss to Columbia (S.C.) in the AAC Tournament.
Milligan returns two seniors from last year's squad in Kylie Whaley and Kylinn Brenden. Whaley was an AAC All-Conference selection while Emilee Linkous was named to the AAC All-Freshman team a year ago.
The Buffaloes have one NAIA National Tournament appearance in their history, a 1-3 showing in 1996.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Sept. 30, 2005 - Janelle Marinos and Jenni Nelsen recorded 12 and 10 kills, respectively to lead the Embry-Riddle women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (30-25, 30-19, 30-19) victory against Milligan to open the SCAD Spikefest Tournament.
Embry-Riddle came out sluggish in the first game and were forced to overcome a deficit against Milligan. Trailing 22-20, the Eagles reeled off 10 of the next 13 points to prevail 30-25. Marinos finished with six kills in the first game and Daniela Brazolino added four on a .429 hitting percentage. Brazolino ended the match with eight kills, three service aces and four total blocks (one solo).
In the second game, the Blue and Gold got back on track and scored the first 10 points riding the serve of Marissa Gonzales and three kills by Mia Jaramillo. ERAU kept piling on the points in the second frame and expanded its lead to 21-6 and cruised to the 30-19 win. Gonzales finished the match with 32 assists and five digs.
Milligan kept the third game close trailing just 12-11, but Embry-Riddle opened things up with an 10-2 run to build a 22-13 advantage. Marinos sparked the run with two serivce aces, Jenni Nelson added two kills and ERAU's strong block altered the Buffaloes' attack committing five errors. The Eagles finished with one block solo and 14 block assists in the match.
SEASON OPENERS GOING EAGLES' WAY
For the seventh time in school history and for the third straight season, the Eagles open their season in the friendly confines of the ICI Center. Embry-Riddle is 10-8 all-time in season openers and a perfect 6-0 at home. Under Gallop, the Blue and Gold has won five consecutive season opening matches, dating back to the 2008 season.
BACK IN THE TOP 10
When the NAIA released the 2013 preseason poll on Tuesday, the Eagles found themselves at No. 10 in the rankings, a three-spot improvement from the team's No. 13 ranking at the end of the 2012 season. 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 (more specifically the top 13) for 38 straight polls, the fifth-longest active streak in the NAIA.
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).
Gloria Kemp also graduated after compiling 672 kills, a .276 attack percentage and 237 blocks in her four-year career.
MILESTONE CHASE
At least one Eagle is in the hunt for a career milestone and a program record entering the 2013 season.
Emily Jacobson stands at 265 career blocks, 96 behind Susan Delahanty's 361 program record number. Jacobson has averaged 88.3 blocks per season since stepping on ERAU's campus.
PRESEASON FAVORITES
The Sun Conference coaches selected the Eagles to top the league's preseason poll, released earlier this month. 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 405-226 all-time, capturing five regular season titles, four conference tournament titles and making three appearances at the NAIA National Championship.
