GAMEDAY CENTRALNo. 21 Embry-Riddle (1-2) vs. No. 3 Wayland Baptist (2-2)
DATE:Â Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 CITY:Â Hastings, Nebraska SITE:Â Lynn Farrell Arena START TIME:Â 2 p.m. EDT
No. 21 Embry-Riddle (1-2) vs. Hastings (6-2)
DATE:Â Friday, Sept. 5, 2014CITY:Â Hastings, NebraskaSITE:Â Lynn Farrell ArenaSTART TIME:Â 8 p.m. EDT
No. 21 Embry-Riddle (1-2) vs. No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist (4-3)
DATE:Â Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014CITY:Â Hastings, NebraskaSITE:Â Lynn Farrell ArenaSTART TIME: 12 p.m. EDT
No. 21 Embry-Riddle (1-2) vs. No. 7 Midland (6-3)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014CITY: Hastings, NebraskaSITE: Lynn Farrell ArenaSTART TIME: 4 p.m. EDTLIVE STATS: Stretch InternetABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLEThe Blue and Gold is ranked 21st in the preseason coaches' poll, maintaining its ranking from the final 2013 poll. 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 239-86 career record in this, her 10th season at the helm of the Eagles.ABOUT WAYLAND BAPTISTWayland Baptist is an NAIA program that hails from Plainview, Texas and the Sooner Athletic Conference. Head Coach Jim Giacomazzi owns a 165-80 record with the Pioneers. In 2013, WBU finished 36-7 overall and 14-2 in league action, finishing second in the conference. Wayland Baptist advanced to the NAIA National Semifinals, falling to eventual national champion Texas at Brownsville.ABOUT HASTINGSHastings is an NAIA program that hails from Hastings, Nebraska and the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Matt Buttermore owns a 51-19 record with the Broncos. In 2013, HC finished 21-12 overall and 10-3 in league action, finishing third in the conference. The Broncos' season ended with a loss to Doane in the GPAC Tournament.ABOUT OKLAHOMA BAPTISTOklahoma Baptist is an NAIA program that hails from Shawnee, Oklahoma and the Sooner Athletic Conference. Annie Howle owns a 180-60 record as head coach of the Bison. In 2013, OBU finished 33-7 overall and 16-0 in league action, winning the conference regular season and conference titles. The Bison advanced to the NAIA National Championship final site, where they went 1-2 in pool play.ABOUT MIDLANDMidland is an NAIA program that hails from Fremont, Nebraska and the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Paul Giesselmann owns a 92-46 record as head coach of the Warriors. In 2013, MU finished 37-5 overall and 13-3 in league action, finishing second in the conference. The Warriors advanced to the NAIA National Quarterfinals, falling to eventual national champion Texas at Brownsville.EAGLES DOMINANT AT HOMESince 2008, the Eagles have made the ICI Center a difficult place for visitors to play. Embry-Riddle holds a 81-14 record at home since the beginning of the 2008 season, a winning percentage of .853. In Sun Conference play, the Eagles haven't lost since Nov. 14, 2009, when SCAD Savannah defeated ERAU in the conference championship match. Since then, the Blue and Gold have won 26 straight home conference matches.STREAKING IN THE POLLSWhen the NAIA released the 2014 preseason coaches' poll, the Eagles found themselves at No. 21 in the rankings, holding steady from last year's final poll. 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 51 consecutive polls, the fifth-longest active streak in the NAIA.GRAY DOMINANT DEFENSIVELYSenior libero Hannah Gray proved that she is one of the best defensive players in the country with her stellar play last season. Gray, who was named The Sun Conference Libero of the Year, averaged 6.8 digs/set, the second-highest average in the nation. Her 809 digs, which set a school record for digs in a season, were the fifth-highest total in the NAIA. This year, Gray is averaging 7.15 digs/set, ranking third in the country.FERREIRA DOING IT ALLJunior setter Tamires Ferreira spent last year proving that setters can do more than just rack up assists. She did a great job circulating the ball while running the 5-1 offense for the Eagles, recording 1,180 assists for an average of 10.17 assists/set, which ranked her 25th in the nation in that category. But she also collected a team-leading 55 service aces, good for 34th in the NAIA, in addition to picking up 333 digs, second-best on the team. Ferreira also proved to be an offensive threat herself, putting down 177 kills, including a match-high 16 kills at Flagler on Sept. 11. The Barbacena, Brazil native also had 55 blocks (four solo) on the season, ranking third on the Eagle squad. In 2014, Ferreira ranks 15th in the country with 0.77 service aces/set and 21st in the NAIA with 10.23 assists/set.PRESEASON FAVORITESThe Sun Conference coaches selected the Eagles to top the league's preseason poll, released last month. 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 vote and 41 total points.20 SEASONS OF EAGLE VOLLEYBALLThe 2014 season marks the 20th edition of Eagle volleyball. Embry-Riddle is 428-240 all-time, capturing six regular season titles, five conference tournament titles and making four appearances at the NAIA National Championship. | | | Stats Comparison | | |  |  |  | | Kills | 171 | 212 | 358 | 294 | 406 | | Errors | 87 | 83 | 205 | 146 | 180 | | Total Attacks | 506 | 607 | 1083 | 883 | 1109 | | Attack Pct. | .166 | .213 | .141 | .168 | .204 | | Assists | 156 | 203 | 328 | 267 | 379 | | Digs | 220 | 248 | 515 | 411 | 436 | | Blocks | 25.0 | 35.0 | 65.0 | 36.0 | 84.5 | | Service Aces | 21 | 31 | 50 | 34 | 51 |
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