GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Embry-Riddle (9-6) at Eckerd (8-7)
DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014
CITY: St. Petersburg, Fla.
START TIME: 7 p.m.

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LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE VIDEO: SIDEARM Showcase (via Eckerd)
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Blue and Gold are 9-6 on the season after pulling off a 3-2 upset of then-No. 20 Coastal Georgia last week. The Eagles reached the NAIA National Tournament Final Site for the fourth consecutive season in 2013. Head Coach Josylnn Gallop is the winningest coach in program history, owning a 246-90 career record in this, her 10th season at the helm of the Eagles.

ABOUT ECKERD
Eckerd is 8-7 on the season and 1-5 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Tritons have lost six of their last seven matches after starting the year 7-1.

As a team, EC ranks third in the SSC with a .232 hitting percentage and fourth in kills/set (12.76). The Tritons average 12.20 assists/set, second-best in the conference, but rank sixth in blocking (1.86/set) and eighth in digs (12.53/set).

Lauryn Nelson is the top-ranked freshman in the Sunshine State Conference with a .302 hitting percentage, which is 11th-best overall in the league. Ali McAlvany is listed fourth in the conference with 3.16 kills/set and Emily Schadow is seventh in the SSC with 6.64 assists/set. Kaitlyn Sibson is fourth in service aces (0.46/set) and sixth in digs (3.76/set); both marks rank her as the top freshman in those categories as well.

BLUE AND GOLD AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
The Eagles have shown this season that they are among the best in the NAIA in kills and assists. Embry-Riddle is currently averaging 13.00 kills/set, the 23rd-best average in the country. With 12.00 assists/set, ERAU ranks 22nd in the NAIA.

GRAY DOMINANT DEFENSIVELY
Senior 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 6.42 digs/set, the third-highest average in the nation. On Aug. 30, the DeLand, Florida native racked up 46 digs, which is currently tied for the seventh-highest single-match total in the NAIA this year.

FERREIRA DOING IT ALL
Junior 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 589 assists for an average of 10.52 assists/set, which ranks her 13th in the nation in that category. Ferreira totaled a career-high 60 assists against St. Thomas on Sept. 12, which is currently tied for the seventh-highest single-match total in the nation this season. In addition to setting, she has also collected a team-leading 38 service aces, ranking seventh in the NAIA with an average of 0.68 service aces/set, in addition to picking up 163 digs, second-best on the team. Ferreira has also proven to be an offensive threat herself, putting down 57 kills, the sixth-highest total on the team. The Barbacena, Brazil native also has 15 blocks on the season, ranking sixth on the Eagle squad.

BEATTY COMING UP BIG
Senior outside hitter Jennifer Beatty has been climbing the national leaderboard as of late, and currently ranks 20th in the NAIA with 3.69 kills/set. Beatty leads the team with 203 kills, including a 28-kill effort against St. Thomas on Sept. 12, which is currently tied for the sixth-highest single-match total in the nation this season.

MILESTONE CHASE
At least one Eagle is in the hunt for a career milestone and a program record during the 2014 season. Hannah Gray stands at 1,753 career digs, 31 behind Senia McIntyre's 1,784 program record number. Gray has led the team in digs in each of her two years at Embry-Riddle, including last year's single-season school-record 809 digs.

PRESEASON FAVORITES
The Sun Conference coaches selected the Eagles to top the league's preseason poll, released in August. Embry-Riddle garnered seven first-place votes and 49 total points to claim the No. 1 spot in the poll, while St. Thomas came in second with one first-place votes and 41 total points.

20 SEASONS OF EAGLE VOLLEYBALL
The 2014 season marks the 20th edition of Eagle volleyball. Embry-Riddle is 436-244 all-time, capturing six regular season titles, five conference tournament titles and making four appearances at the NAIA National Championship.